Colorado is known as the nation’s leanest state, but this distinction belongs only to its adults. Colorado ranks 29th in the nation for childhood obesity.
Meanwhile, Colorado’s rural economies have not grown at the same pace as those in the Denver metro region.
Colorado House Bill 1088, sponsored by Rep. Faith Winter, D-Westminster, effectively addresses this childhood obesity problem and uneven economic recovery by providing grants to help farmers produce healthy, nutritious food for public school kids.
Research shows that farm-to-school programs work for students. They provide kids with healthy food options and teach them about nutrition and food production.
When children learn about how their food reaches their plates, they make healthier choices. Students who attend schools with farm-to-school programs are 28 percent more likely to choose healthy meal options. Students who attend schools that serve local fruits and vegetables have a 14 percent lower chance of being overweight or obese.
Farm-to-school programs are working in other states. At least 16 other state governments support farm-to-school programs, but Colorado does not. Colorado did create a privately funded Farm to School Task Force in 2010, which has been examining how to expand these programs. Schools have reported to the task force that there simply are not enough local agricultural producers in the market to initiate or expand farm-to-school relationships.
And producers have told the task force that the cost of participating in farm-to-school programs prohibits them from getting into the market. Detailed food-safety measures required by schools can be expensive to implement. Furthermore, investments in food transportation, cooling and infrastructure needed to lengthen the growing season are often necessary to sell to schools, but can be prohibitive for smaller agricultural operations. Large vendors who sell less healthy, processed food and/or ship in their food from afar have a distinct advantage.
As this year’s legislative session kicked off, both Democrats and Republicans said that they would look for ways to make sure economic prosperity reached the people in the corners of our state that have been left behind.
This proposal is a proven way to do just that.
The bill, which would cost $1 million per year for five years, would issue grants to Colorado farmers and ranchers to help address these costs so more local agricultural producers can participate in farm to school programs.
In the 2013-14 school year, Colorado schools spent $180 million on school meals. If we can keep more of those dollars in our state, we can help our economy, particularly in rural areas.
Farmers who sell to schools see an average 5 percent increase in their total income. Furthermore, studies show that each $1 invested in farm-to-school programs produces $2.16 of local economic activity, and for every one job created by schools purchasing local food, 1.67 more jobs are created locally.
Researchers believe that this generation of school children is the first to have shorter projected lifespans than their parents, as a result of chronic diseases like diabetes that have their root in poor nutrition. This bill enables Colorado farmers to help this generation.
HB 1088 is a proven win-win for Colorado’s kids and economy.
Let’s put Coloradans to work for the benefit of Colorado’s kids.
Jake Williams is the executive director of Healthier Colorado. Anthony Zamora of Leffler Family Farms in Eaton is a member of Colorado’s Farm to School Task Force.
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