Washington state bill about schools/farmers/food

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/348679_farmschool25.html

snip

A comprehensive bill seeks to begin dismantling barriers to connecting local farms with schools and other public buyers -- from scant funding to bidding rules to an inability to freeze raspberries or chop broccoli.

With a majority of lawmakers already signed on as sponsors, its passage appears likely. It's also backed by groups rarely seen on the same side of an issue -- the environmental community and the conservative Washington Farm Bureau.

"I haven't heard anything negative about this bill," said Marilyn Rasmussen, D-Eatonville, chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee.

"When we're flush with food in our farmers markets, we ought to be able to use them not only in schools, but also our institutions and senior centers."

Proponents say the biggest hurdle will be getting the $4.5 million to support the multipronged initiative.

"Getting good food into kids' bellies and stabilizing such a broad array of our ag community is an investment that most people would think we should make," said Rep. Brian Blake, D-Aberdeen, chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

Kurt Tonnemaker, whose family grows apples, pears and cherries in a Grant County orchard, said the bill would allow the money that public institutions spend on food to circulate in the local community rather than disappear out of state or overseas.

The bill includes funding to hire employees in the state Department of Agriculture to connect schools and growers and to study what infrastructure might be necessary to supply the quantities institutional buyers need.

It also offers money for at least 75 more low-income schools to buy fresh, local fruits and vegetables as snacks and for food banks to contract directly with farmers.

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Now THIS is a win-win idea that is going in the right direction that can only bring better health and prosperity for Washington state.

I think every state should commence work on similar bills suitable for their own individual agriculture and institutional environments.

Don't forget that it's not just fresh "summer" fruits and vegetables that are healthy. Potatoes that are properly prepared and raw nuts, like walnuts and sunflower seeds, are good "winter time" foods. Kids used to get a serving of nuts in little cups that provides protein and is available year around due to its ability to be stored.