Ecotrust in the News
City Club of Portland
October 9, 2009
Speaker(s): Deborah Kane, Vice President Food & Farms, Ecotrust
Kristy Obbink, R.D., Director of Nutrition Services, Portland Public Schools
Healthy Eating and America’s Youth
This fall, just as children were settling back into the school routine, USDA announced a new national initiative to teach children where their food comes from and create opportunities for local farmers to provide their harvest to schools. Similar efforts, known as “farm to school” initiatives, have been underway in Oregon for several years. In fact, Oregon is the only state in the nation with two full time positions dedicated to advancing farm to school programs within its Departments of Agriculture and Education. Locally, Portland Public Schools instituted “Harvest of the Month” and “Local Flavors” initiatives to bring more regional bounty into the lunchroom.
On October 9, Deborah Kane, Vice President Food & Farms at Ecotrust and Kristy Obbink, R.D., Director of Nutrition Services at Portland Public Schools will discuss the historical context for the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, efforts being made to improve school meals in Portland Public Schools and state and federal efforts to bring more locally grown foods into our schools. Discussion will also touch on the degree to which school food is a health and wellness issue, an equity issue (43% of Oregon students participate in the free or reduced lunch program), and an economic development issue.
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