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ERIC Number: EJ1347101
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-1559-5676
Available Date: N/A
Procurement of Foods in Mississippi Delta Schools
Landry, Alicia; Thomson, Jessica; Walls, Tameka
Journal of Child Nutrition & Management, v46 n1 Spr 2022
Purpose/Objectives: The objective of the present study was to determine school food procurement amounts (weight and cost) in two Mississippi school districts to illustrate the potential economic and agricultural impacts of purchasing local foods for use in school meals. Methods: School food procurement data from two school districts similar in size and demographics (one participating in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program [FFVP] and one not participating) located in the rural Mississippi Delta were collected for this observational study. Data collection covered two academic years, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. Research staff members coded and classified foods into eight categories -- fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, dairy, added sugars, fats, and miscellaneous. Summary statistics (food group amounts and percentages) were computed for descriptive purposes. Results: For the non-FFVP district, the largest procurement amounts for fruit and vegetable categories were juices and potatoes, while for the FFVP district, they were apples and potatoes. The number of various fruits and vegetables procured for the FFVP district were greater than the non-FFVP district (16-18 versus 12 different fruits; 19-20 versus 17-18 different vegetables, respectively). For both districts and years combined, 146,678 pounds of fruit and 100,779 pounds of vegetables were purchased. Application to Child Nutrition Professionals: Although school districts purchase substantial amounts of fruits and vegetables each year, few of these items are procured locally. Enhancing readily available identification of local items, offering training opportunities focused on rural and small school districts regarding how to procure local foods within constraints, and continuing efforts like the Farm to School Census are all ways to promote procurement of local items. Likewise, engagement of school administrators with local producers is necessary for mutually beneficial effects on school nutrition programs and local agricultural economies.
School Nutrition Association. 120 Waterfront Street Suite 300, National Harbor, MD 20745. Tel: 301-686-3100; Fax: 301-686-3115; e-mail: servicecenter@schoolnutrition.org; Web site: https://schoolnutrition.org/news-publications/jcnm/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Mississippi
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A