The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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September 11, 2011

Our View: A tasty move in local schools

The Free Press

Not only is that fresh apple, sweet corn and cantaloupe on your child’s lunch tray a pleasant surprise at Mankato area schools this year, but the produce will likely have come from an area grower.

Mankato Area Public Schools has started participation this school year in the Farm to School program. With the objective of serving healthier meals in school cafeterias, the program connects K-12 schools with local farms to get much of their food.

In Mankato schools that will mean fresh produce, such as squash, cabbage, corn, apples, watermelons and cantaloupe, will be a part of students’ meals.

The transition to healthier food in school lunches has taken a while, but it’s good to see the time has finally arrived. Some Minnesota districts adopted the local food program years ago. The Sibley East School District even has their students growing some of the food served.

The Mankato district has been introducing healthier foods gradually, such as whole-grain breads, more vegetables and skim milk, but involvement in the Farm to School program will be a great improvement.

Part of what has tied the hands of school districts is that they rely heavily on USDA commodities for menu offerings. But now with the federal government taking a leadership role in emphasizing more nutritious food and tackling child obesity, that will have an effect on local districts. New federal guidelines require schools to cut sodium and fat and emphasize whole grains, and more fruits and vegetables. Kids can consume as much as half of their daily calories in school.

It makes sound sense to teach kids sound nutrition in classrooms and reinforce those lessons in the cafeteria. And as an added bonus of the Farm to School program, local producers benefit from the extra business.

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