Colorado Farm to School Task Force Meeting

M AY 1 4 , 2 0 1 4

1 0 A M – 2 P M

D E N V E R , C O LO R A D O

Colorado Farm to School Task Force Meeting

http://www.coloradohealth.org/

Today’s Agenda

10:00 am Introductions & welcome visitors

10:10 am Work of the Task Force

10:15 am Core Team Update

10:30 am Farm to Cafeteria Conference - Update

10:50 am FTS Evaluation Toolkit Update

11:00 am Social Media Planning

Noon Lunch

12:10 pm Presentation: Denver Public Schools Farming Project

12:30 pm Year 2 ITA Sites & Workshops Update

12:45 pm Outreach Updates

1:00 pm Working Group Updates

1:30 pm Developing an Advocacy Strategy

1:55 pm Wrap-up

2:00 pm Adjourn Business Meeting

2:30 pm Tour: Sustainability Park

Colorado Farm to School Task Force

2

Welcome


3

Introductions

Task Force members

Name, Organization, “Seat”

Guests

Name, Organization

Why are you here/what do

you hope to learn?

RULES OF CONDUCT

ROADMAP


4

Work of the Task Force

Rules of Conduct


5

Be respectful

Disagree constructively

Agree to disagree

Seek first to understand

Don’t cross examine

Come prepared

Stay focused

Participate fully

Be timely

Cell phones on vibrate

Colorado Farm to School Task Force 6

JULIE MOORE

THERESA HAFNER


7

Core Team Update

Members General Activities

Julie Moore (chair)

Theresa Hafner (vice-chair)

Andy Nowak

Kristin Tucker

Shaina Knight

Ashley Moen

Julia Erlbaum

Taber Ward

Anna Wool

Plan quarterly meeting agenda

Follow up on quarterly meeting tasks

Respond to emerging opportunities

Oversee projects, activities, & opportunities

Review new member applications

Monthly Core Team Meetings


8

March 2014-April 2014 Core Team Work


9

Respond to outreach opportunities

Explore new partnerships

CO Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association

Sustainable Agriculture Food Systems Funders

Develop strategy for using the USDA FTS Census

Provide input to USDA on improving questions in 2015 Census

Provide guidance and outreach on ITA regions for 2014-2015

Develop quarterly meeting agenda

School District Map Google Map


10

FTS Happening in Colorado!

ANDY NOWAK

KRISTA GARAND

JULIA ERLBAUM

LYN KATHLENE


11

Farm to Cafeteria Conference Update

State Level FTS Models

How it Happens How to Do It!

Farm To Cafeteria: Powering Up!

Austin, TX April 17, 2014 2:15-3:45pm

Agenda

• Legislative advocacy strategies that established statewide FTS programs

• Vermont FTS Rozo McLaughlin FTS Program (HB 91 passed in 2007)

• Washington State Department of Agriculture F2S Program (SB6483 passed in 2008)

• Colorado FTS Task Force (SB81 passed in 2010)

• Oregon – (Establishing and expanding FTS Grant program 2011 and 2013)

• Montana Farm to School Grant Program (HB0417 tabled in Appropriation in 2013)

• FoodCorps – Advocacy in Montana and beyond

• Breakout table session to begin developing an advocacy plan to pursue FTS legislation in your state (new or expansion)

13

Task Force

Lyn Kathlene, Staff Spark Policy Institute

14

Colorado FTS Task Force: In a Nutshell

Legislative Authority

• Created in 2010 legislative session

• 15 appointed members (originally 13, added 2 seats in 2013)

• Specific action-oriented mandates written into statute

• No state general funds supporting it

Operations

• Professional staff selected in competitive state bid process (Spark Policy Institute)

• Grant funding

• Staffing, meeting costs, development of materials and technical assistance trainings, special projects

• Regular meetings

• Quarterly meetings around the state

• Core team meetings once a month

• Working group meetings on-demand

15

Advocacy Process for Colorado’s FTS Task Force

The Pre-Legislative Campaign

•Colorado School Nutrition Association (CSNA) partner

•Trusted state legislator

•Six years of prior successful passage of school nutrition legislation

•Local purchasing preference for state agencies passed in 2005

•Fresh F&V pilot program passed in 2006

•Extensive network of supporters

Demonstration Projects/ Evidence

•Large: Denver Public Schools joins School Food FOCUS in 2009

•Culinary skills training

•Scratch cooking

•School gardens

•Mid-size: Colorado Springs district procuring from local producers

•Small: Southwest school district buying direct from local farmers

•“List” of types of FTS demonstration projects that would benefit farmers and schools

Advocacy during the Legislative Session

•Paid lobbyist from CSNA took lead

•Consistent messaging tied to “healthy fresh food in school = improved student outcomes”

•Dynamic, well-respected Food Service Director testifying

•Removed fiscal note

16

Legislative Resolutions “Farm to School Coordination Task Force”

• It is in the best interests of Colorado’s children, farmers, ranchers, food processors, manufacturers, and communities to develop a more robust and self-sustaining agricultural sector that promotes healthy foods at schools….

• Because a child can receive up to 55% of his/her daily nutrition at school, it is in the important for children to eat a healthy diet of fresh foods at school.

• While children receiving inadequate nutrition are at risk of lower achievement in school, research shows an improvement in student behavior, academic performance, and health scores when nutrition is improved.

• In order to encourage healthy and lifelong habits of eating fresh, minimally processed, and nutritious local foods as well as foster relationships among farmers and school children, school personnel, and other adults in the Colorado community and to promote the sale of agricultural products produced in the state, it is in the best interests of the state to develop a farm-to-school program.

17

Legislative Details “Farm to School Coordination Task Force”

• SB10-81 establishes Task Force; SB13-153 “continues indefinitely”

• Required to recommend policies and methods to best implement FTS program that encourages school districts to use local agricultural products.

• Advise FTS pilot programs and consider possible funding sources to recover increased costs of using locally grown products.

• Provide training/assistance to (1) farmers to enable selling to schools, and (2) school food services to integrate state-grown products into school meals.

• Must submit report of recommendations and progress to legislature.

18

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How the Task Force is Funded

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http://www.coloradohealth.org/

http://www.gatesfamilyfoundation.org/

Colorado FTS has Grown Four-Fold since 2010

21

Evaluation Toolkit Visibility at FTC


22

1. Short presentation at USDA Grantee meeting

2. Short presentation at Evaluation short course by the National FTS Network

3. Outreach at regional meeting groups

4. Outreach at various evaluation workshops throughout the conference

5. Display table during Fair Share/Poster Session

198 people signed up for notification of upcoming trainings

Poster Session


23

4’ x 8’ cloth story “board” Advocacy backstory

Creation of the Task Force

Staffing of the Task Force

Activities of the Task Force

Resources the Task Force has produced

Strategy of the Task Force

Where is the Task Force Going?

District Map – Growth of FTS in Colorado

FTS Evaluation Toolkit

Funders

ANDY NOWAK

LYN KATHLENE


24

FTS Evaluation Toolkit Updates

Training Plan


25

Two year USDA FTS Grant

National in-person (June 2014)

The Edible Schoolyard Project (n=100)

Colorado trainings via ITA Workshops

25 sites eligible for TA support

Webinar series

Teaser (20 minutes)

Overview

Creating an Evaluation Plan

Outcomes, Indicators and Measures

Choosing and Adapting Tools

Collecting and Analyzing Data

Reporting Results

ERICA GLAZE


26

Social Media Planning


27

Lunch

ANNE WILSON, FTS COORDINATOR, DPS

NICK GRUBER, PRODUCE DENVER


28

Farming School Land: Denver Public Schools

JULIA ERLBAUM


29

Intensive Technical Assistance Workshop Updates

Colorado Farm to School Task Force 30

Chaffee Agenda & ITA Workshops


31

July 7th: FTS Quarterly Meeting

Guidestone School Garden & Farm Tour

Homestead Dinner

July 8th Local Food in Rural Communities

Evaluation Toolkit Workshop

Safety First: Addressing Food Safety from Farm to Cafeteria

Food and Agriculture in School Curriculum

Potential ITA Sites for Year 2


32

In Conversation Telluride

Exploring Grand Junction

Gunnison

JULIE MOORE

&

TASK FORCE MEMBERS


33

Outreach Updates

March – May 2014


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1. FTS Directors from the Front Range

2. WY Master Gardeners & Farmers Association

3. Producer Cultivation Event at RE-6

4. CDE website – linked FTS TF ppt

5. CU Dining Administrators

6. Rotary Club

7. Farm to Cafeteria Conference (Austin, TX)

8. Culinary Institute of America national leadership summit (San Antonio, TX)

9. Others?

Upcoming Outreach Activities


35

1. Office of the Governor, early June

2. CDPHE Administration, early June

3. SAFSF Annual Meeting, Denver, June 17-19th

4. CSNA Annual Conference, CO Springs, June 16-19th

5. Colorado Vocational AG Teachers Association, Fort Morgan, June 24-26th

6. American Horticultural Society meeting, Columbus, OH, July 17-19th

7. North American AG Marketing Officials, Denver, July 26-30th

8. Colorado Proud School Meal Day, statewide, Sept. 10th

9. Producer Cultivation event at RE-6, Fall 2014

Outreach Opportunities


36

Identify 2-3 opportunities in next three months

PRODUCER ENGAGEMENT

FTS MARKETING TOOLKIT

STUDENT CURRICULUM

LEGISLATIVE & STATE AGENCY PRIORITIES


37

Working Group Updates

Composition Goals & Key Outcomes


Chair: Anthony Zamora

Members: Krista Garand

Theresa Hafner

Julie Moore

Shaina Knight

Goals: Get more producers to

participate in FTS

Have a producer mentorship program

Key Outcomes Recruit new producers

Educate producers

Develop producer commitment to FTS

38

Producer Engagement

Composition Goals


Chair: Andy Nowak

Members: Lauren Heising

Dave Maynard

Ashley Moen

Shaina Knight

Rainey Wilstrom

Education – Define FTS

Promotion Templates

Peer-to-peer

Specific audiences

39

FTS Marketing Toolkit



Chair: Shelly Ford

Members: Mike Womochil

Kristin Tucker

Goal CO K-12 FTS curriculum

aligned with state standards

Healthy eating

Gardening/food production

Food science

Key Outcome K-12 across the state

implements FTS curriculum

40

Student Curriculum



Chair: Jeremy West

Members: Ana Wool

Marion Kalb

Ashley Moen

Goals Per meal stipend for use of local foods Incentivize producers to sell to

schools FTS is a legislative priority for CSNA FTS is a priority for AG associations

Key Outcomes More $ for school meals More $ for producers Draft Bill in 2016 for per meal

stipends FTS is priority for CSNA policy

committee FTS is priority for AG association

subcommittees

41

Legislative & State Agency Priorities

Advocacy Over the Long

Haul Eight Years of Farm to

School and School Garden

Legislative Victories in Oregon

42

Timeline of Oregon Legislative Victories

• 2006: Advocates outlined a vision

• 2007: “Farm to School Coordinator” staff position created in Oregon Dept. of Ag

• 2008: “Farm to School and School Garden Coordinator” staff position created in Dept. of Education

• 2009: Advocates lobbied for $23 million in funds for school districts, got none

• 2011: Advocates lobbied for $23 million in funds for school districts, using two new reports showing the benefits to youth and the economy; got $200,000

• 2013: Advocates lobbied to expand program from $200,000 per biennium to $5,000,000; got $1.2 million

43

Strong Foundation Prior to 2013 • Oregon Farm to School and School Garden Network

created in 2007

• Diverse membership from food service directors to farmers

• Email list(s) and Annual meeting

• Policy Working Group

• Committed Legislative Champions since 2007

• One urban advocate for youth and anti-hunger programs

• One semi-rural advocate whose family owns an orchard

• Staff in two state agencies doing great work

• Managing Oregon’s FoodCorps program (7 service members) (Ag)

• Managing grant program created in 2011 (Ed)

• Providing technical assistance to farmers and schools (both)

44

2013 Goals

• Expand the grant funding program that was created in 2011

• From $200,000 to $5,000,000

• Funds go to School Districts by competitive grants

• Managed by Dept. of Education, which keeps 2% for admin.

• Majority of funds for procurement; smaller portion for “food-, agriculture- or garden-based educational activities.”

• “Education” funds can be used for staffing, but “procurement” funds cannot

• 15 cents per meal/ serving for products produced or processed in Oregon

• Can include produce, meats, grains; fresh, frozen, lightly processed

• Make minor changes to program, to increase flexibility of procurement / education split

45

2012-13 Pre-Session Strategy: Legislators to the Lunchroom and Garden

• 22 Oregon Legislators (out of 90) and 1 Oregon Congressman (out of 5) met with students in school gardens, cafeterias, or on farm field trips

46

2013 Session Advocacy

• Hired a contract lobbyist, in capitol full time in addition to citizen and staff advocacy

• Coordinated a great lineup for the Ag. Committee Hearing

• Worked with partner organizations

• To incorporate our bill into their “citizen lobby day” activities

• To have their lobbyists talk about our bill

• Tried to publicize the successes of the “pilot” grant program, running concurrently with session

• Made GIS maps overlaying legislative districts with school districts and sites, so we knew who to contact whom

47

2013 Victory

• Secured $1.2 Million in funding for School Districts for 2013-15 biennium

• Made desired (minor) changes to bill re. allocation of funds btwn procurement and education

• Funds will renew annually through ODE budget until/unless the Governor or the Legislature actively cut them.

48

Lessons Learned from 2013 Session

• Always unanimous votes – Challenge is getting the dollars allocated before the vote

• Needed a central campaign website

• Needed a coalition member (or contractor) with media connections, to help get stories placed

• Wanted a system for tracking contacts to legislators

• Our contract lobbyist was critical to our success; however….

• We should have provided even more periodic updates to our coalition partners, and asked them to make more constituent contacts to their legislators

49

Major Benefits / Results of ALL our Victories

• The staff in our two stage agencies do a wide variety for wonderful things to support and promote farm to school and school garden programs.

• Over 1,000,000 school meals were made more delicious and appealing by the addition of local ingredients, as a result of the tiny initial investment of $200,000 from the 2011 legislation.

• Over 170,000 K-12 students at 19 school districts are benefitting from the grant awards made for the 2013-15 biennium. (affecting 6,000,000 meals.)

• Farmers and processors around the state benefit from the reliable local business.

• Kids are eating healthier meals and getting more excited about fresh, local foods.

50

Ever Onward! Next Steps for Oregon Advocates:

• Continue to lobby for expanded funding until ALL schools can participate (if they want)

• Preparing for a bigger and better “Legislators to the Lunchroom” campaign in 2014, including visits to all 19 school districts that received 2013-15 grants.

• Exploring advocacy opportunities to better support / expand School Gardens.

• Focusing on cultural diversity in F2S&SG implementation and advocacy

51

LYN KATHLENE

JEREMY WEST


52

Developing an Advocacy Strategy

Developing the Legislation


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Scope: Farm to School Grant Program

Mandates: Reimburse school districts for costs incurred by the school

district to purchase Colorado food

[See Oregon HB 2800]

Developing the Advocacy Plan


54

Existing advocates

Existing legislation

Target advocates

Key supporters

Potential supporters

Opposition

Key public advocates

Advocacy strategies

Next steps

WHAT WORKED WELL?

WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER NEXT TIME?


55

Wrap Up

TOUR AT 2:30PM


56

Adjourn

Documents

Colorado Farm to School Task Force Meeting