Reducing Obesity and Fostering Economic Development Through Farm to School: Analysis and Recommended Actions

Abstract

Using Mississippi as a case study, this paper describes the potential for expanding farm to school and provides recommendations for state and local actions to encourage its growth. Part I provides a brief background of farm to school programs in the United States and the benefits of such programs to education, children’s health and economic development. Part II reviews federal regulations and statutes relevant to farm to school programs and discusses new federal legislation designed to encourage farm to school activities. Part III provides an overview of school food purchasing, including coverage of the extent to which schools currently purchase local and regional agricultural products. Part IV reviews some of the barriers that could come into play when implementing farm to school programs in Mississippi. Part V is comprised of studies of farm to school programs implemented elsewhere at the local, state and regional levels. Part VI is an overview of measures that legislatures across the country have taken to support farm to school programs. In Part VII, the paper concludes with a description of actions nonprofit organizations and the state government can take to promote farm to school activities in Mississippi.