MEDIA ADVISORY: San Diego Unified Food Services to share Farm to School Program best practices with national food services directors and USDA

MEDIA ADVISORY from the San Diego Unified School District, April 8, 2015

TITLE: San Diego Unified Food Services to share Farm to School Program best practices with national food services directors and USDA

WHAT: The National Food Service Management Institute (NFSMI) along with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is hosting their Major Cities Training Symposium – Local Strategies for Healthy School Meals in San Diego. As part of this symposium, over 60 members of large school districts across the country and the USDA Farm to School team are visiting Crawford High School to learn about San Diego Unified's innovative Farm to School and Garden to Café program, and receive training on how to create similar programs in their home districts.

WHEN: Thursday, April 9, 2015
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: Crawford High School, 4191 Colts Way (92115)
http://www.sandi.net/crawford

PRESENTERS: San Diego Unified's Gary Petill, Director of Food Services, and Farm to School Specialists Ashley Cassat and Kathryn Spencer are presenting on Farm to School Purchasing, Salad Bar Program, Harvest of the Month, California Thursdays, Nutrition Education and Garden to Café. Food Services Acquisition and Production Manager Fred Espinosa and Food Services Area Supervisor Jonas Rooth will be leading the cafeteria and kitchen tours.

SCHEDULE:
8:45 a.m. – Guests arrive at Crawford
9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. – Overview of San Diego Unified School District's Farm to School Program – Large Auditorium
10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. – Two tour rotations will occur between 10 and 10:50 a.m.
- Kitchen Tour and Farmers Meet and Greet
- Garden to Café Presentation and Garden Tour (two students that participate in the Garden Club will participate in the garden tour).
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. – California Thursday Lunch – Crawford Indoor Cafeteria – A school lunch in which all food items are farmed in California will be served.
11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Guests observe lunch carts being set up and depart at noon

VISUALS:
- San Diego Unified Food Services representatives presenting information and training directors from other large districts and the USDA Farm to School team on the district's innovative Farm to School Program.
- Food services directors from around the country and the USDA Farm to School team touring the Crawford High School kitchen and garden.
- Two local farmers, Ron Sahu from Sahu Subtropicals and Jared Bray from Stehly Farms Organics, will be there with their produce for the attendees to sample.

BACKGROUND: San Diego Unified's Farm to School program, which began in 2010, serves locally-grown produce at lunch and/or snack time to students at schools throughout the district. Crawford High has an on-campus garden that grows produce, which is harvested by students to be used in the school's cafeteria.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jennifer Rodriguez | Communications | cell: 619-847-6029
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