[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.
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