The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm to School Census for 2015 has highlighted advancements local food sourcing, salad bars and educational gardens. 

The data indicates schools across the country purchased US$789 million in local food from armers, ranchers, fishermen, food processors, and manufacturers in the 2013-14 school year.

"This represents an 105% increase over school year 2011-2012 when the first USDA Farm to School Census was conducted," the report said.

"Nearly half (47%) of these districts plan to purchase even more local foods in future school years."

The USDA said schools that purchased local foods triggered more local activity.

"In fact, the faster a dollar circulates in a defined region, the more income and benefits it creates beyond the school cafeteria.

"Imagine a school buying local fruits and vegetables from a nearby farmer. The farmer then buys seeds and other supplies from the local feed store, which in turn hires local employees, who wear uniforms made by a local manufacturer.

"Several studies estimate that buying local food has a multiplier effect of 1.4-2.6 throughout the local economy; for every dollar spent locally, another 40 cents to $1.60 of economic activity is generated."

This multiplier effect suggests the potential generation of US$1 billion in local economic activity.

The USDA said there were now 17,089 salad bars around the country, which worked hand in hand with farm to school programs, giving children daily access to fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy proteins.

"A survey of recipient schools showed that 78% of schools that implemented salad bars increased their purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables.

"Salad bars give schools the opportunity to develop relationships with local farmers, improving the quality and freshness of the produce they serve and opening up new avenues for teaching kids about where their food comes from and how to make healthy choices.

"Nationwide, 62% of school districts with farm to school programs operate salad bars, often stocked with local options."

The census also found 7,101 schools had gardens to help students learn about how their food was grown.

"School gardens can thrive in all types of environments – from Alaska to the Virgin Islands and everywhere in between. School gardens of all shapes and sizes offer a rich, multisensory learning laboratory that puts the natural world at children’s fingertips," the USDA said.

"Gardens can take the form of a planter box, raised bed, indoor window garden, or even a school farm."

The leading states for farm to school participation were Rhode Island  (90%), Vermont (83%) West Virginia (82%), Maine (79%), New Hampshire (77%) and Alaska (76%).

The states with the lowest participation rates were Oklahoma (21%), Arkansas (22%), Nevada (22%) and Illinois (24%).

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