Farm to School: Current Efforts, Challenges & Moving Forward with Policy

July 6, 2011 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  Church of the Crossroads, 1212 University Ave

All interested in learning more about improving childhood nutrition, agricultural education, supporting local farmers, and community food systems are welcome to attend this Hawaii Food Policy Council Forum on July 6, 2011 at the Church of the Crossroads. Free parking is available in the church parking lot and on the street. Please bring a plate, fork, and small local dish to share. Forums are usually two hours long and usually begin with 30 minutes of networking followed by a one hour presentation by guest speakers and 30 minutes of community Q&A.  Attendees will also have an opportunity to hear from various HPFC committees on the status of the working groups and the HFPC as a whole.   

Across the nation, childhood obesity is on the rise. Public health efforts to curb this trend have increasingly looked at the role of schools and particularly school meals, in creating nutritious opportunities and healthy habits for our children. For students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, free or reduced meals at school may be their only meals for the day and their only exposure to fruits and vegetables. Farm-to-School efforts attempt to bring fresh produce into the meals of students, through procurement of fresh produce from local farmers.  The success of farm-to-school efforts would mean better nutrition for students, less energy expenditure for importing foods, and increased economic opportunity for local farmers.

About the speakers:

May Okihiro, MD, MS is a pediatrician at the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and the Associate Director with the University of Hawaii Department of Pediatrics Koko'okolu Fellowship in Community Pediatrics.  May is the director of the  Hawaii Initiative for Childhood Obesity Research and Education

Dexter Kishida of the Kokua Hawai`i Foudation is the School Food Coordinator for the `AINA IS program (Actively Integrating Nutrition and Agriculture in Schools). Kokua Hawai'i Foundation has been a strong supporter for implementing school gardens and Farm-to-School efforts, providing training and resources for schools. Dexter has spent years introducing healthy food into the diets and dirt into the hands of students across the island.

Glenna Owens is School Food Services director for the Hawaii Department of Education. The DOE School Food Service Branch provides about 100,000 meals daily! Glenna has been strong advocate for introducing healthier options into the meals of Hawai`i's students.

Della Au Belatti, JD is the representative for House District 25.  She serves on the Keiki Caucus, Rural Caucus, Heritage Caucus, Kupuna Caucus, Climate Change Caucus and others. She co-introduced HCR133: REQUESTING THE CONVENING OF A TASK FORCE TO DETERMINE HOW TO EXPAND SCHOOL GARDENS PROGRAMS STATEWIDE.

For more information on school lunch and farm-to-school visit these websites:

Healthy School Lunches -http://www.healthyschoollunches.org/ 

Farm to School - http://www.farmtoschool.org/  

Kokua Hawaii Foundation Farm-to-School Resources - http://kokuahawaiifoundation.org/schoolprograms/ainainschools/farmtoschoolresources/ 

For more information contact the Hawaii Food Policy Council via Amanda Corby at amanda@hawaiifoodpolicycouncil.org or 240-1096.

This is not a Slow Food O'ahu event but may be of interest to our members. 

The Estria Foundation and local mural artist John "Prime" Hina announce the completion of the largest aerosol paint mural in the Hawaiian Islands. The "Water Writes" Mural is a collaboration of local artists, youth organizations, 808 Urban, and The Estria Foundation. The 5,500 square foot mural is the third in a series of ten across the world dedicated to local and global water issues. The mural is dedicated to the water that brings life to the islands. The mural has, as its central image, a twenty five foot tall portrait of Queen Lili'uokalani, representing her commitment to ensure that water and land are declared a public trust, to be cared for by all Hawaiians. To her left are images of the wasteful policies and uses of water that have taken root since Kingdom times. To her right is an image of a new ahupua'a, a Honolulu of the future featuring sustainable developments with respect for culture, water, and land.

The community is invited to join the artists in celebration of the completion of the mural on Thursday, July 7, 2011 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.  The mural is located at 905 Kokea St. Honolulu near the Honolulu Community College. The event will feature cultural performers, musicians, volunteers, artists, educational activities, vendor booths, lunch trucks, and a gathering of diverse community members joining together to celebrate the theme of the mural " A 'ohe hana nui ke alu 'ia " or  "No task is too big when done together by all." 

808 Urban is a collective of artists, volunteers, and community organizers committed to working in low-income neighborhoods in Honolulu.  Through arts workshops, mural projects, and cultural organizing, 808 Urban promotes sustainability for Hawaiian communities through self-determination, political and cultural awareness, and leadership development.

 The Estria Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises social consciousness on environmental issues through public art projects. The foundation is sponsoring a year-long series of mural projects that aim to educate and empower communities to express their voice through public art.

Enjoy two light-hearted movies that celebrate the importance of good food in our lives.

· "Kamome Shokudo" is about a Japanese woman who opens a restaurant in Finland serving "Japanese Soul Food", her o-musubi.

· "Tampopo" is a 1985 classic Japanese "ramen-western" food comedy about finding the perfect famen in modern Tokyo.

Both movies are showing at the Movie Museum in Kaimuki at the times noted above.  Reservations are highly recommended, as seats are limited.  For reservations or more information contact 735-8771.

This is not a Slow Food O'ahu event but may be of interest to our members 

July 9, 2011 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

The Sheraton Moana announces the "Third Annual Mangoes at the Moana Festival" on July 9, 2011 full of mango information:  seminars, cooking competition "The Mango Throw Down" and tasting, and a mango farmers.  Taste mango scones, mango mousse cake, mango sorbet, and much more.  For more information check out mangoesatthemoana.com or contact 921-4640.

Transition Oahu is sponsoring a class on sprouting with Ron Robinson.  Sprouting is a form of gardening where you don't need any land or much space.  Sprouts are nutrient dense and are a very efficient form of nourishment, a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Please join in a day of learning how to grow sprouts (sunflowers, buckwheat, pea greens, wheat grass and mung beans in jars or trays.  Each person will be able to go home with their own jar of mung beans that they can sprout themselves, ready to eat in 2 - 3 days. In this introductory class you will receive an overview of the world of live foods, while you spend a day outdoors with like minded people.

The cost for the workshop is $10 and includes lunch, recipes and a jar of beans to take home.  Reservations are required at ksterns@hotmail.com or 206-3200.

Check out the flyer on this event. 

This is not a Slow Food O'ahu event but may be of interest to our members. 

Slow Food O'ahu Convivium website Slow Food Hawai'i Convivium website