Hawthorne Elementary, MSU hold local food events Play Video

By Dan Boyce

Posted: Feb 8, 2010 5:22 PM
Updated: Feb 9, 2010 5:37 PM

Bozeman's Hawthorne Elementary provided the venue Monday for a roundtable discussion on the future of local food.

It was a who's who of local, statewide and regional policy makers. The list included Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Montana State University President Waded Cruzado, farmers, educators and representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Hawthorne ranks as a Healthier U.S. Gold School for its nutritious, locally grown school lunch program

USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan was scheduled to facilitate the discussion. But the heavy snowstorms rocking Washington D.C. kept her from making the trip. She still joined the talk by phone.

Farm to School programs are her favorite topic, according to Merrigan.

"Across USDA, I'm asking all the agencies to really put on their thinking caps, be creative," Merrigan said.

She also agrees with Schweitzer when he suggests Montana look to the past for inspiration. Schweitzer said 80 years ago almost all food consumed locally was grown locally.

"Along the way we lost our way and we produce our food a long ways away, and it's processed and then shipped a long distance, so it's building a connection between local farmers and local consumers," Schweitzer said.

The Montana Office of Public Instruction says in some cases Farm to School programs result in higher lunch costs. But a representative says the higher nutritional value and support of local growers make the costs worth it.

The conversation about local food was also being held at Montana State University where some Americorps volunteers dressed as fruits and vegetables for the fourth annual local food fair.

Merrigan was also supposed to provide an address at the local food fair Monday afternoon. Because of her snow waylay in D.C. that talk is being postponed until Merrigan can make the trip.

Attendees were still able to sample food and speak with over 35 local food producers.

Click here for more information from the USDA.

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