Local Farms to Local Tables
Today, over half of Americans (53%) consider themselves to be “foodies”, a term describing people who have a particular interest in food. This can be seen in events across the US that center completely around bringing people together to enjoy certain food (or food groupings) together. On a local level, this is evident with the Agstravaganza event every fall themed around the Farm to Table movement. This increased care about the craft of food, specifically Farm to Table, has now found its way onto the cafeteria tables in LaRue County Schools (LCS).
Stephanie Utley, LaRue County Schools Director of School Nutrition, has been working with local farmer Travis Cleaver to begin serving his locally grown produce to students at LCS, “I met Travis Cleaver at a Farm to School Meeting at the Extension Office, he was eager to work with us and I was eager to get local produce into our schools.”
It doesn’t take long for anyone to understand that often times trying something new can often be met with rules and regulations in regard to implementing new initiatives in public schools, but Utley says this partnership came together smoothly, “The rules and regulations don’t make it too difficult, USDA and KDE are very supportive of supporting local farmers. The most difficult thing to navigate is price, but that usually isn’t an issue. Travis has been great to work with, their entire team has made the relationship magnificent.”
Fresh and local food has obvious benefits for the health of students in the county, but it has a deeper impact than just nutrition, Utley explains, “It keeps money local, it allows the school system to support local farmers. Everything related to food has to be manufactured or grown in the USA, but this allows us to keep it within our community. The students benefit by having fresh, local produce that has come directly from local farms to their cafeterias.”
To Cleaver, the opportunity goes even beyond the economics, “It means a great deal to me to supply good food to good people. Pretty cool to come full circle and supply the same school I attend with our products. Very very grateful and thankful for the opportunity.”
While Americans continue to find joy in experiencing other cultures’ food offerings, a higher interest in regional foods in the US, and even trying their hand at fixing new recipes at home - there is something special about local foods being enjoyed locally. LaRue County has a rightfully proud tradition of agriculture and a new generation of children has the opportunity to experience the fruits of that labor just down the road in the LCS cafeterias.
