Lane County school cafeterias are turning to local food producers for produce, dairy and even flour.
Lane County school cafeterias are turning to local food producers for produce, dairy and even flour.
ood grown right here in Lane County was purchased by area schools in 2012 to the tune of $314,000. Not only does that benefit children’s nutrition, it opens up new markets for local farms, said Megan Kemple, director of the Farm to School program run by the Willamette Farm & Food Coalition.
Produce alone — fruits and vegetables — has increased in schools 269 percent in the past five years, while processed food increased 64 percent, according to a recent report by the coalition.
Bethel School District in west Eugene is leading the way with 32 percent of its food purchases coming from local farms, dairies or food processors, according to the report.
Read more at The Register-Guard.
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