Local Farms - Healthy Kids Campaign

Brief Campaign Overview

In general, schools are required to make their purchases based on the lowest-priced bid. This includes the purchases of food and often results in serving cheaper, highly processed foods. By enabling schools to purchase local fresh fruits and vegetable, this legislation will benefit our farmers, promote healthy eating in our children and help build a stronger local farming community in our State.

When local food systems are strengthened, farms are more economically-viable, less energy is required to transport food over great distances, and people from all economic classes have greater access to healthy fresh foods. This proposal will:

• Expand children’s access to locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables in schools, through food stamp programs and food banks.
• Ease purchasing restrictions that currently make it difficult for schools and institutions to buy from local farms
• Create sustainable markets for our farmers that will help keep farmers farming and help preserve farming communities near our cities and towns.