scholarly journals Opportunities for Partnership in Local Food Procurement: Mississippi Delta Schools

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 90-90
Author(s):  
Tameka Walls ◽  
Jessica Thomson ◽  
Alicia Landry
Keyword(s):  
School Districts ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Mississippi Delta ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Food Service ◽  
School Food ◽  
Added Sugars ◽  
School Food Service ◽  
Agricultural Community ◽  
Food Procurement

Abstract Objectives Procuring food for school meals is costly in a region like the fertile MS Delta. Hence, efforts to procure foods locally may yield substantial benefits in terms of economic return to the area and positive impacts on children's diets. The objective of this study was to determine food procurement amounts in two Mississippi Delta school districts, one participating in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) and illustrate potential economic impacts of purchasing local. Methods Procurement data from two Mississippi Delta school districts, academic years 2018–2019 and 2019–2020, were compiled and grouped into 8 food categories. The food categories were fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, dairy, added sugars, fats, and miscellaneous. Amounts of procured foods were converted to weight in pounds and cost in dollars. Results For the FFVP district, dairy accounted for the largest cost (34%) followed by protein (23%), grains (19%), fruits (13%), and vegetables (10%) in 2018–2019. In 2019–2020, grains accounted for the largest cost (26%) followed by fruit (20%), protein (19%), and vegetables (12%). For the non-FFVP district, protein accounted for the largest cost (25%) followed by grains (24%), dairy (18%), fruits (14%), and vegetables (14%) in 2018–2019. In 2019–2020, grains accounted for the largest cost (26%) followed by protein (24%), dairy (19%), fruits (16%), and vegetables (11%). Conclusions Although school districts purchase substantial amounts of dairy, grains, protein, fruits and vegetables, very little if any is procured locally. Encouraging school food service administrators to connect with and purchase foods from local farmers may provide an economic boost to the agricultural community and will facilitate serving fresh, nutrient rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to school children. Funding Sources This research was funded by the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

scholarly journals Contracting school meals in a rural Florida district

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-90
Author(s):  
Mark Traynor ◽  
Can Chen ◽  
Miranda Kitterlin
Keyword(s):  
School Districts ◽  
Food Service ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
Food Services ◽  
School Food ◽  
Contracting Out ◽  
Content Type ◽  
School Meal ◽  
School Food Service ◽  
The Cost

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the decision to contract school meal services and the associated nutritional and financial impacts on school districts. Given the increase in the use of competitive contracting of public school meal services and the critical role that school meal services play in public health, this is an important subject to investigate. Design/methodology/approach A case study was performed using one US school district with privatized food service. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with school food service decision makers. Other data collection included the analysis of public documents such as the school district’s budgets and financial statement reports (the cost per lunch and breakfast meals, the cost for labor, contract, transport, supplies and food expenses) and school food service policies (contract policies). Supplementary data pertaining to district social-demographic profiles and full-time equivalent enrollment figures were also collected from state departments. Findings Analysis of interviews revealed that positive financial motivations and impacts were dominant factors related to contracting food services in the district. A significant finding was the relatively short turnaround in the district’s negative financial situation as a result of contracting out the food services. These findings provide valuable insight and support for rural school districts in similar negative financial situations seeking to contract out food services. Originality/value Many studies have examined contracting out of technical services, such as transport and waste management, and social services, such as correctional services and health; however, there is a lack of studies documenting the effects of contracting out of school meal services.

scholarly journals Do attitudes, intentions and actions of school food coordinators regarding public organic food procurement policy improve the eating environment at school? Results from the iPOPY study

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1299-1307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen He ◽  
Federico JA Perez-Cueto ◽  
Bent E Mikkelsen
Keyword(s):  
Eating Habits ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
Food Service ◽  
Nutrition Policy ◽  
School Food ◽  
Procurement Policy ◽  
School Food Service ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
Food Procurement ◽  
Health Promoting

AbstractObjectiveThe present study investigates whether public organic food procurement policies have the potential to induce changes in the school food service environment.DesignA comparative cross-national survey was conducted in public primary and/or secondary schools in Finland, Germany and Italy. The school food coordinators completed a web-based questionnaire on their attitudes, intentions and actions towards organic school food provision.SettingIn Germany, 122 out of 2050 schools in the state of Hesse responded. In Finland, 250 out of 998 schools across the country responded. In Italy, 215 out of 940 schools from eight provinces responded.SubjectsSchool food coordinators in the sample of schools in the three countries.ResultsThe German and Finnish school food coordinators separately most agreed with the promotion of healthy eating habits (P < 0·001) and organic food (P < 0·001) by schools. The Finnish schools were most likely to adopt a food and nutrition policy (P < 0·001), a health-promoting school policy according to WHO principles (P < 0·001), to have a playground (P < 0·001), to involve physical activity themes in teaching (P = 0·012) and to have a canteen (P < 0·001). The Italian schools were most likely to involve the food and nutrition policy in pedagogical activities (P = 0·004), to serve nutritional school meals (P < 0·001) and to recommend children to eat healthily (P < 0·001). In the three countries, the non-organic schools were less likely to adopt a food and nutrition policy (P < 0·001), a WHO health-promoting policy (P < 0·001) and have a canteen (P = 0·017) than the organic schools.ConclusionsThe study suggests that there is a gap in the effects of public organic food procurement policy on building a healthier school food environment.

scholarly journals Middle School Students’ Perceptions of the Lunchroom: Implications for Future Interventions

2020 ◽  
pp. 105984052092850
Author(s):  
Natoshia Askelson ◽  
Grace Ryan ◽  
Patrick Brady ◽  
Cristian L. Meier ◽  
Patti Delger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Food Service ◽  
School Lunch ◽  
School Students ◽  
School Food ◽  
School Food Service ◽  
Service Staff ◽  
School Lunch Programs

The National School Lunch Program provides nutritious and inexpensive lunches, but low participation and food waste are challenges in many schools. Interventions aim to improve participation in the program, but little is known about how students’ perceptions affect their participation. This study explored how middle school students in a rural state perceive school food service staff, food served, and lunchroom atmosphere. An online survey was administered to middle school students at six schools participating in a larger lunchroom intervention. Mean perception scores were calculated for all measures. Multilevel logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between perceptions and consumption. Overall perceptions of staff, food, and atmosphere were positive, and students classified as school lunch eaters had more positive perceptions in all three areas than noneaters. Interventions to increase participation in school lunch programs and promote consumption of healthy food items should address multiple factors that contribute to school lunch participation.

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