[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 149 (Tuesday, November 16, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7479-H7481]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                SUPPORTING NATIONAL FARM TO SCHOOL MONTH

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1655) expressing support for designation of October 
as ``National Farm to School Month,'' as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

[[Page H7480]]

                              H. Res. 1655

       Whereas Farm to School programs of varying scale are 
     currently operational in over 9,700 schools in all 50 States;
       Whereas Farm to School programs connect schools and local 
     farms in order to serve healthier meals in school cafeterias;
       Whereas Farm to School programs often have experiential 
     education components that can lead to permanent improvements 
     in children's diets both in school and at home;
       Whereas Farm to School programs facilitate the purchase of 
     local food for school meals;
       Whereas Farm to School programs can benefit small and mid-
     sized agricultural producers by providing access to 
     consistent markets;
       Whereas Farm to School programs can be particularly 
     important for beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers as 
     schools provide a consistent and secure customer base;
       Whereas Farm to School programs can benefit local 
     economies, for every $1 spent on local foods in schools, $1 
     to $3 circulate in the local economy;
       Whereas one-third of children in the United States are now 
     obese or overweight, and over the past 3 decades, obesity 
     rates have quadrupled in 6- to 11-year-olds and tripled in 
     12- to 19-year-olds according to the most recent data from 
     the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National 
     Health and Nutrition Examination survey;
       Whereas United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) data 
     shows that only 2 percent of children meet the Food Guide 
     Pyramid serving recommendations;
       Whereas communities with high levels of poverty have less 
     access to fresh fruits and vegetables than higher-income 
     communities;
       Whereas increased consumption of fresh fruits and 
     vegetables is 1 of 6 major strategies to prevent and control 
     obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention;
       Whereas Farm to School programs can increase children's 
     daily intake of fresh fruits and vegetables and studies have 
     demonstrated that children in schools with an active Farm to 
     School program increased their average consumption of fresh 
     fruits and vegetables by 1 or more servings per day;
       Whereas Farm to School programs are popular among children 
     and can increase school lunch participation ranging from 3 
     percent to 16 percent for all meals; and
       Whereas the month of October would be an appropriate month 
     to designate as ``National Farm to School Month'': Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses support for designation of ``National Farm to 
     School Month'';
       (2) encourages schools and local education agencies to use 
     local produce in meals; and
       (3) encourages schools, farmers and farm groups, local 
     businesses, nonprofit institutions, churches, cities, State 
     governments, and other local groups to raise awareness of 
     Farm to School efforts in their communities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Hawaii.


                             General Leave

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Resolution 1655 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HIRONO. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 1655, celebrating 
National Farm to School Month, which was observed in October of this 
year.
  Farm to School programs bring nutritious products from local farms 
into the cafeterias of schools in our area. The result is healthier 
meals, improved student nutrition, and a link to firsthand education in 
agriculture, health, and nutrition. Exceptionally popular with 
children, Farm to School programs operate in over 9,700 schools in 
Hawaii and all 50 States. In schools with a Farm to School program, 
there is a 3 to 16 percent increase in school lunch participation.
  Farm to School programs provide better food options for our kids at 
school. Since 1980, obesity rates in 6-to 11-year-olds have quadrupled, 
and for 12- to 19-year-olds they have tripled, according to the Centers 
for Disease Control. Tragically, over one-third of our children are now 
obese or overweight. Increasing one's consumption of fresh fruits and 
vegetables is one of six major strategies to prevent and control 
obesity. Studies have demonstrated that children in schools with an 
active Farm to School program increased their average consumption of 
fresh fruits and vegetables by one or more servings per day.
  Farm to School programs also have an important educational component. 
They allow for taste tests, school gardens, composting, and farm tours, 
which helps children to clearly connect the food that they eat to their 
body, communities, and environments.
  From an economic standpoint, the program helps local family farms and 
stimulates the local economy even during these difficult times. Farm to 
School programs help farmers find a local economy for their produce. 
Local farmers receive 60 to 70 cents per dollar of the sale price under 
Farm to School, whereas the average intake a farmer receives from 
traditional distributors is often less than 20 cents per dollar.
  Farm to School products which reach the cafeteria are likely less 
costly to pack and ship and may have a reduced impact on the 
environment. In Hawaii, our high costs of land and remote geography 
require us to import over 85 percent of our food. Farm to School 
programs can have a major impact on providing Hawaii farmers with an 
institutional market for their produce and reducing transportation 
costs.
  I have had the privilege to visit several of Hawaii's growing number 
of Farm to School programs to see their impact firsthand. In August, I 
visited Ka 'Umeke Ka'eo Hawaiian Immersion Charter School on Hawaii 
Island. The proud fourth- and fifth-grade students showed me the school 
garden, which is integrated into class lessons. Most memorable was 
watching the worm composting process, which, by the way, the kids 
really liked. I again say mahalo for the tour to the students, Director 
Alapaki Nahale'a of the Hawaii Charter School Network, School Garden 
Instructor Pua Mendoca, and Nancy Redfeather of the Hawaii Island 
School Garden Network.

                              {time}  1730

  I also visited the school garden at Waimea Middle Public Conversion 
Charter School in Kona. I would like to thank Dr. Guy Kaulukukui of the 
Kohala Center for assisting with the visit. Last year I went to a 
garden party at Aikahi Elementary in Kailua, sponsored by the Kokua 
Foundation. At the garden party, we weeded and mulched the gardens for 
the kindergarten, first, and fifth grade classrooms. In Hawaiian, 'aina 
means ``land'' or ``earth.'' The Kokua Foundation's 'AINA program 
stands for Actively Integrate Nutrition and Agriculture in Schools. The 
program works to foster healthy eating habits, improve children's 
health, and encourage environmental stewardship.
  Since its inception in 1996, Farm to School programs nationwide have 
been making healthy eating a priority in our schools and building 
strong community connections. For these reasons, we celebrated and 
honored Farm to School programs this past October. I congratulate the 
efforts of Farm to School programs in Hawaii and nationwide.
  I want to thank Representative Holt for introducing this resolution 
and, once again, express my support for House Resolution 1655.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 1655, expressing support 
for designation of the month of October 2010 as National Farm to School 
Month. Farm to School programs operate in every State in more than 
9,700 schools and support community-based food systems, strengthen 
family farms, and improve student health. These programs bring fresh 
fruits and vegetables to students to help ensure they have access to 
quality food options and get their recommended daily servings of fruits 
and vegetables. Ultimately, these programs can help in the fight to end 
childhood obesity.
  Farm to School also supports local businesses. Schools involved in 
Farm to School programs serve as consistent customers to food producers 
and help support local farmers and the community. In fact, for every $1 
spent through the Farm to School program, $1 to $3 is returned to the 
local community. The Farm to School program benefits both students and 
local businesses, and I urge my colleagues to support designating 
October as National Farm to School Month.
  I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H7481]]

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from Hawaii.
  I rise in support of House Resolution 1655 that I introduced to 
establish October as National Farm to School Month. I want to thank the 
leading cosponsor, Representative Betty McCollum of Minnesota, and 
Chairman Miller for their help in bringing this to the floor today.
  It should not be a surprise that I, as a representative of the Garden 
State, support bringing Jersey tomatoes and sweet corn into schools. 
But this is not just a local or provincial resolution. Farm to School 
programs are a key priority for Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, and 
First Lady Michelle Obama has planted a garden at the White House with 
the help of local students to symbolize the good nutrition that comes 
from fresh foods as well as to educate students about where food comes 
from.
  Farm to School programs can help in the fight against childhood 
obesity and economically support our local farmers. These programs also 
help address the troubling rate of childhood obesity. Currently, there 
are 31 million children who eat school meals 5 days a week, 180 days a 
year. While the National School Lunch Program does a good job feeding 
these children, the program has the potential to provide fresher and 
more healthful foods to millions of children in the United States. Farm 
to School programs fight obesity by increasing children's daily intake 
of fresh fruits and vegetables. Farm to School programs also benefit 
small- and mid-sized agricultural producers by providing access to 
consistent markets, and they're a great stimulus for the local economy. 
For every dollar spent on local foods in schools, several dollars 
circulate in the local economy.

  While there are presently more than 10,000 Farm to School programs 
operational in all 50 States, it is but a fraction of the 94,000 public 
and nonprofit private schools that are operating the National School 
Lunch Program. Establishing October as National Farm to School Month 
would increase awareness and provide the recognition that the existing 
programs have earned.
  Farm to School programs exemplify the best use of Federal school 
lunch dollars, and I am pleased that this legislation that I wrote to 
provide $40 million in mandatory funding for Farm to School competitive 
grants is included in the pending reauthorization of the Child 
Nutrition Act on which we will vote soon.
  I would like to take a moment to thank Megan Lott at the Community 
Food Security Coalition and Beth Feehan, the director of the New Jersey 
Farm to School Network, for their efforts in support of this 
resolution. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and to join 
us in helping to spread and strengthen Farm to School programs across 
the country.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests 
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. HIRONO. Once again, I would urge all my colleagues to support 
this resolution. As I mentioned, one of the fun things that I got to do 
in Hawaii was to visit these school farm programs, their agriculture 
programs. They really do work because the kids definitely do begin to 
eat their vegetables.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, House Resolution 1655, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________