California Farm to School Update

Western Regional Farm to School MeetingMarch 20, 2009 | Portland, OR

California Schools

•9,821 public schools•6.3 million students•51% qualify for free or reduced lunch

California Agriculture

•Most productive agricultural state in the nation•CA grows about half of the nation’s fresh produce•Year round growing season

California Farm to School Estimates

•100 districts•1,000 schools

Farm to School Coordinators

DavisFresnoHumboldtLos AngelesOaklandSacramentoSan DiegoSan FranciscoSan Luis ObispoVenturaWatsonville

California Farm to School Strengths

•Year round growing season•12 years of farm to school•Abundant farmers’ markets•Pilot fruit & vegetable grants•Broad coalition of support

Barriers to F2S and Gardens

•Low state spending on education •Limited political support•Size of state•Access to local growers

www.cafarmtoschoool.org

For More Information

Moira Beery

Center for Food & Justice(323) 341-5099 | beery@oxy.edu

www.cafarmtoschool.orgwww.csgn.org