The Missouri Department of Agriculture and Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority are now offering grants to help integrate local foods into the school system.
In order to qualify, applicants must be a small farmer or small business that processes or purchases locally grown products from a small farmer. The grants are not limited to a specific type of business or producer. Producers of products such as eggs, fruits and veggies are all eligible for the grant.
The applicants’ primary market must also be schools in the state.
“It could be a farmer, or it could be somebody who’s in the business of processing locally grown produce and making it into a manageable package. For example, it could be somebody who’s taking lettuce and washing it and cutting into bite size pieces for a salad bar,” Cindy DeBlauw, a Univeristy of Missouri Extension associate said.
According to DeBlauw, farmers face different challenges when trying to relay their products to local schools. Many schools require that farmers have certification with acceptable agricultural practices, which is an added cost. Farmers also need to purchase liability insurance.
Equipment and the ability to manage fresh produce is another factor.
“Some schools let coolers, cooling space or dry storage space to store some of that fresh produce at adequate temperature so that they can serve it to the kids,” DeBlauw said.
Steve Hamra, owner of Hamra Farms in Sikeston, Mo., has been selling his hydroponically grown produce to schools, restaurants and grocers in the surrounding areas for the past 15 to 20 years.
Hamra said the biggest challenges with Farm to School is cost and education. He said some schools think that organically grown products are not affordable and that they do not understand the benefits of hydroponically grown produce.
Hydroponic is the process of growing produce in a heated greenhouse that is placed in a soilless medium and fed minerals and waters through tubes. This method allows Hamra to grow his products all year round and increase its shelf life to two to three weeks. According to Hamra, the increased shelf life saves schools money in the long run.
“Once you get into these schools and they know you have a great product, and know that they’re going to do it, it opens up even more doors,” Hamra said.
Hamra provides his produce to about 45 different schools across Missouri every week. His products include four types of lettuce, bell peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes. In an average week, he delivers 2,700 heads of lettuce, 300-500 pounds of bell peppers, 400-500 pounds of tomatoes and cherry tomatoes and 300-400 pounds of cucumbers to schools alone.
Hamra started working with schools before Farm to School became a huge movement.
“I think it could grow. I think it could help a lot of people,” Hamra said. “It helps the kids, helps the schools, helps the producers, helps the state. I mean, it’s a win win all the way around.”
The deadline to apply for the grants is 5 p.m. Oct. 31 and the maximum amount an applicant can receive is $200,000. Applicants are required to provide 10 percent cash match towards the resources funded.
According to a press release by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, applicants will be judged upon their credibility and economic development potential.
“I see this being great because you have access to different foods that are at their peak freshness and at their peak flavor. It’s more likely that kids are going to consume the foods which is the whole point of the school lunch program,” DeBlauw said.