Special to
L’Observateur

Baton Rouge — A conference to address a statewide farm-to-school initiative has recently been funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm to School Grant Program.

Through a $25,000 grant, the LSU AgCenter will host a statewide farm-to-school conference to bring together school administrators, teachers, parents, food service managers, farmers, food distributors and others involved with Louisiana agriculture, school gardens and healthy school meals, said Annrose Guarino, the AgCenter state specialist for urban health.

Guarino and AgCenter horticulturist Carl Motsenbocker are leading the effort to develop a conference that will be held in 2015 to address food education and community health and provide economic development opportunities.

The first Louisiana farm-to-school conference will be supported by a planning steering committee and a group of partner organizations, Guarino said. The format will center on education, gardening and procurement and provide assistance in areas such as local food procurement, food and garden safety, culinary education and incorporating curricula into existing core classes.

“The conference and three regional follow-up workgroup meetings will provide opportunities for local interested parties – including agriculture professionals, faith-based organizations, smaller nonprofits, private schools and others – to join the farm-to-school movement,” Guarino said.

It will provide examples of best practices from similar programs in other states, she said. The follow-up sessions are expected to be held in New Orleans, Ruston and Lafayette. The Louisiana program is part of a national farm-to-school movement, Guarino said.

Farm to School is the practice of sourcing local food for schools or preschools and providing agriculture, health and nutrition education opportunities, such as school gardens, farm field trips and cooking lessons, organizers said.