Making the grade: farm-to-school movement remakes school lunch.

• Author: Webb, Gaylen

A school lunch revolution is taking shape around the country. Ketchup isn't considered a vegetable any more. Mystery meat is out; high calorie foods are out. Nutrition is in.

To earn higher marks for nutrition, many states have adopted farm-to-school programs, adding fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables to school lunch menus. In fact, FarmToSchool.org estimates there are some 2,224 farm-to-school programs operating in 45 states across the nation. The movement is still in its infancy in Utah, but is getting stronger as nutritionists and schools look for ways to improve the quality of school lunch menus.

"It's a brand new idea in Utah, but a lot of folks are interested in it," says Jim Goodwin, senior program officer for the Western Rural Development Center, which is funded by the USDA. Goodwin spends a large part of his time working on sustainability issues and says incorporating locally grown fruits and vegetables into school lunches is good for the school children, good for farmers and good for the economy--sustaining jobs, keeping money in the community, contributing to local prosperity and helping people stay closer to the sources of their food.

"Much of the food we eat travels an average of 1,200 to 1,500 miles before it gets to our plates. There are a lot of ramifications involved in transporting foods long distances that are not good for our environment," he says. "We should always buy as much food locally as possible."

Patricia Messer, a partner in the organic Late Bloomin' Heirlooms farm, which is a member of Utah's Own, believes the farm-to-school program can help reconnect parents and children with the farming community.

"We have lost touch with our farming community," she says. "Let's not import everything from out of state when we can grow it ourselves."

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A Healthy Connection

Lunchboxers is a company that bills itself as "a healthy alternative to school lunch." This year, Lunchboxers will serve an estimated 5,000 daily school lunches to approximately 55 charter and private schools in the state. The company has contracted with 10 farmers to provide produce, primarily corn, peaches, apples and pears, to its school lunch program.

"We are starting out our farm-to-school program moderately, but our goal is to use as much local produce as possible," says Jeremy Glauser, director of business development for Lunchboxers. "Last year we did an end-of-year survey with parents and found that people are crying out...