Farm To School Portal on the menu for National Sschool Lunch Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       
October 15, 2007                     

Contact: Debra Eschmeyer
Tel: 419.753.3412; Cell: 202.557.6942l deschmeyer[at]oxy.edu

New tool provides innovative approaches to tackle childhood obesity
and loss of family farms 

LOS ANGELES — As a means to support community-based food systems, strengthen family farms, and improve student health by reducing childhood obesity, the National Farm to School Network launched its new and improved website, www.farmtoschool.org. This timely release coincides with National School Lunch Week, October 15-19, 2007.

Farmtoschool.org is a portal for farm to school information in the U.S, and includes extensive content with easy access for submitting information about programs, upcoming events, funding opportunities, and online discussion forums to dialog on issues facing farm to school programs.

“The portal showcases the great work of innovative farmers, teachers, food service directors, parents, and others involved in farm to school programs. It’s the first stop for anyone looking to promote future events, discuss timely topics on the forum pages, and share lessons learned across the nation,” said Debra Eschmeyer, National Farm to School Network Marketing Manager.

An exciting new feature includes a state profile for each of the 34 states with active farm to school programs. For example, click on California on the map, and you can search for policies, farmers, media coverage, funding opportunities, and involved groups specific to the state.

“Highlighting key news and events across the nation and also particular to each region, the new website vastly improves the ability to stay up-to-date and involved in grassroots efforts. Various tools and resources are available for free download to assist in starting a farm to school program,” said Anupama Joshi, Farm to School Program Director.

The National Farm to School Network is supported in part by a $2.4 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The Kellogg Foundation grant enables the Network to establish a viable and sustainable mechanism to coordinate, promote, and expand the farm to school movement at the state, regional, and national levels. The Network is coordinated by the Center for Food & Justice at the Urban & Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College (www.uepi.oxy.edu) and the Community Food Security Coalition (www.foodsecurity.org).