Rocky Mountain Food Safety Conference

May 22, 2013

Transformation of School Food in Denver Public Schools: Gardens , Cafeterias and

Farms

Andrew NowakSlow Food Denver

Danica LeeDenver Department of Environmental Health

Seed Starting

Seed To Table: School Gardens

Spring Planting

Making pesto

Seed To Table: Taste Education“Feeding themselves”

Fresh tortillas

Ready to sell!

Seed To Table: Youth Farmers’ Markets“Feeding the Community”

Selling to the community

2012 YFM season29 school sites3 Boys & Girls Clubs141 Markets23,080 pounds sold$26,313 in sales$16,774 from farms$8,997 in profits

Youth Farmers’ Markets

Late season produce

Callicrate Beef

Denver Public Schools: Local Foods

Local produce

Scratch Cooking Training

Denver Public Schools: Changes in the Cafeteria

Introduction of Salad Bars

What would it take?

Denver Public Schools: Garden produce into the school kitchen?

Adapt GAP/GHP- Proper training- Documentation- Workers’ health

- Sanitation- Clean harvest baskets- Water source

Concerns associated with produce

Denver Dept of Environmental Health:What are the HD considerations?

Outbreaks associated with raw produce over last decade

Most raw produce outbreaks come from a contamination event combined with temperature abuse OR viral contamination

Pathogens commonly associated with raw produce:SalmonellaE. coliHepatitis AListeriaShigella

Complexity of our commercial food supply

Sprouts potentially hazardous food since ‘90s

Tomatoes become PHF in 2009

Cut leafy greens PHF in 2013

Increased industry self-regulation

More regulatory oversight

Changing regulatory environment

Example:

What are the HD considerations?

Compared to frequency of consumption, raw produce is LESS likely to be implicated than many other foods

Implementing good food safety practices can make produce even safer in school kitchens

However…

Handling of harvesting equipmentRestriction of ill children/handlersHygienic practicesWashing of produceRefrigeration after harvesting, preparationSupervision of salad bar (covered with

DPS, not in these procedures)Cleaning & sanitization of kitchen

equipment

Focus of food safety precautions

Bigger Public Health perspective: what are the benefits?

• Physical activity• Healthy eating• Community growth• Teaching new skills/traditions• Encourages habits which are “greener”• Changes culture

Many of these benefits contribute positively to Healthy People 2020 goals and Colorado’s Winnable Battles

Given their Environmental Public Health impact, what can local HDs do to minimize barriers to participation in these programs?

Protocols include:

Denver Public Schools: Garden to Cafeteria Protocols

- Training of GTC leaders- No ill students- Wash hands- Sanitized baskets- Field wash- Tracking sheet- Final approval of kitchen- Refrigerated separately

from other produce

A morning harvest

Seed To Table: Garden to Cafeteria“Feeding the School”

Selling to the cafeteria

2012 GTC season14 school sites29 types of fruits

and veg1,123 pounds sold$965.89 in sales

Garden To CafeteriaFresh produce from gardens

The next DPS transformation…

Bradley International School Farm

For DPS cafeterias