Food Hubs and Values-based Supply Chains - presentation

Weld County District 6 Food Hub Project

Purchasing locally grown produce for fours years

Began with one crop from a single farm to purchasing over 30 crops from five local farms

Collective Bid process with NOCO- The Northern Colorado Coop. (10 Districts bid together for FTS)

“School Food Renaissance”scratch cooking using good and wholesome ingredients.

Salad bar program offering local produce.

Weld 6 School District Greeley-Evans

Weld 6 School District Greeley-Evans

2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012

$239

$11,643

$50,849 $39,064

D6 Farm to School Produce Purchases

Weld 6 School District Greeley-Evans

District 6 Local Purchases

$535,454

A local food development group focusing on the development of local food systems that provide integral infrastructure and system support to allow for meaningful connections between local Producers and their community.

Supporting and developing systems that enhance Farm to Institution relationships including Farm to School programs.

Real Food Colorado

COLORADO FARM TO SCHOOL TASK FORCE

2012 Vision

2010 - Senate Bill 81“Farm-to School Healthy Kids Act”

Increasing the use of local farm and ranch products in school food service programs to improve child nutrition

Strengthen local and regional agricultural economies

History

Specifically….

Creating or expanding farm-to-school program pilots;Offering assistance in identifying funding sources and grants;Identifying, designing, or making available training programs to enable local farmers and ranchers;Advising school districtsProviding assistance to schools on recipes, menu rotation, proper handling, preparing, storing, and other internal processes that accommodate the use of locally grown foods in public schools.

Received grant support to revamp School’s central kitchen:

Allowed increased and efficient scratch cooking of school meals.

Expanded School’s ability to self-process local produce:

Piloting a Summer Local Produce Processing where Weld 6 will process in-season products during the Summer to be used when school is in session in the Fall

Increase purchase of locally grown food

Increase use of local grown food in school meals

Greeley-Evans Weld 6 School District

Greeley-Evans Weld 6Central Kitchen Facilities

Greeley-Evans Weld 6Central Kitchen Facilities

Bakery Area

Cooking Area

Greeley-Evans Weld 6Burritos with Local Beans

Phase 1 Project Scope: Remodel existing facility allowing for an

expanded central scratch cooking production as well as self-processing of farm fresh produce items.Purchase from local farms and provide a

central delivery destination.Ability to process products for immediate in-

season use as well as process products for extended use.

Self distribute within District.

School Based Food Hub ProjectWeld County Phase 1

Phase 2 Project Scope: Expansion beyond Weld 6 District sites to

servicing other School Districts within Weld County as well as participating NoCo Coop*Members that consist of 12 other School

Districts, including one in Wyoming.Increase potential buyers of locally grown and

raised food.Central aggregation, value-added products

and distribution of locally grown food to multiple school districts.

School Based Food Hub ProjectPhase 2

Phase 3 Project Scope:

Potential expansion beyond schools to service Weld County municipality such as Food Banks, other institutional purchasers such as local colleges and hospitals with their direct from farm product needs.

Expand access to locally grown and raised food to multiple marketplaces.

Increase economic profile of local producers and their products.

Ensure greater access to locally grown and raised foods to entire community.

School Based Food Hub ProjectPhase 3

Jeremy West, CDM/SNS

[email protected]

www.greeleyschools.org/nutrition

Thank You!