School lunch service workshop set

A workshop to connect school lunch programs with the food produced by local farmers will be held June 22, in Valley City.

"We want food-service directors, farmers, community members and interested individuals to take part in this workshop to bring healthy, local foods to school children across our state and to teach them the fundamentals of good nutrition," said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. "Farm-to-school programs provide our children with healthy food choices, while creating economic opportunities for local farmers."

The workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Valley City State University, 230 Viking Drive S.W. Registration is $25, which includes lunch and material costs. The event is open to the public.

Goehring said the workshop will provide food-service directors with connections to local producers, and an opportunity to learn firsthand how some North Dakota schools are switching to healthy, local foods.

Keynote speaker Abby Gold, a nutrition and wellness specialist and assistant professor with the North Dakota State University Extension Service, will provide a preview of "Go Wild for Fruits and Veggies," a new curriculum being released to 32 county extension offices.

According to the Center for Rural Affairs, two-thirds of school children get about one-third of their total daily calories from a National School Lunch Program lunch. On average, that food travels between 2,500 and 4,000 miles before reaching their plates.

"The National Survey of Children's Health found that more than 25 percent of North Dakota children between 10 and 17 are overweight or obese," Goehring said. "These statistics should encourage school officials and parents to adopt and support farm-to-school programs."

Interested persons should contact Sue Balcom at suebalcom@nd.gov or 701-328-4763 for additional information or to register. Early registration is encouraged.

The workshop is sponsored by North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the Center for Rural Affairs, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the National Farm to School Network.