Leave it to Berkeley, CA. to be the first school district in the U.S. to offer organic, locally grown food to its 10,000 students. In August, the Berkeley United School District’s Board voted unanimously to implement a program that incorporates whole-foods principles and organic gardening into the school’s curriculum and the food it serves.
Food Systems Project coordinator Jered Lawson states, “We want to purchase organic to ensure that it’s GMO-free, BGH-free and irradiation-free. Our emphasis is fresh and local, and to build responsible relationships with local food manufacturers and growers of organic and natural foods.”
The district phased out sugar-based soft drinks and snacks and phased in organic substitutes like fruit from San Francisco-based Veritable Vegetable, whole wheat bread from a local bakery, and organic rice cakes and tortilla chips from companies like Newman’s Own and Barbara’s Bakery.
The USDA is funding the project with a three-year grant as part of Berkeley’s Center for Ecoliteracy. The Center’s mission is to improve community health by teaching families how to establish and maintain lifelong healthy eating habits. The USDA has made Berkeley a pilot project linking farms to schools.
Source: Natural Foods Merchandiser
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