Articles
Archdiocese of Chicago Food Service Thinking Seven Generations Ahead
In a culture where obesity has reached epidemic proportions and where most children know more about fast food than where their food comes from has emerged a new collaboration between Food Service Professionals (FSP), serving Archdiocese of Chicago schools, and Chicago-area non-profit organization Seven Generations Ahead (SGA). The collaboration will focus on ways to increase the procurement of fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy lunch foods for Archdiocese of Chicago students with the complementary goal of supporting local family farmers through the facilitation of procurement linkages between local farms, food service, and distributors.
Seven Generations Ahead, recipient of USDA Community Food Project funding that supports the Fresh from the Farm initiative, borrows its name from the Great Law of the Iroquois, stating that "…in every deliberation we must consider the impact on the seventh generation." SGA works in the Chicago area to educate municipal, business, and community leaders about ecologically sustainable best practices, and catalyzes the development of initiatives which are economically viable, meet community needs, and promote a healthy environment.
SGA’s Fresh from the Farm is one of a growing number of "farm-to-school" programs across the country reconnecting children to healthy eating and the source of their food. The program offers curricular and other learning activities designed to educate students about healthy food choices and the rationale for supporting local family farmers who are raising food in ecologically responsible ways. The broad goals of Fresh from the Farm include increasing healthy eating among students, making the connection between healthy eating, nutrition and the growing of food, and supporting local farmers raising food in ecologically responsible ways.
To date, SGA is working with FSP on the procurement side of the program, but hopes to expand its Fresh from the Farm curricular activities into Archdiocese schools. SGA Founder/Executive Director, Gary Cuneen, a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, has partnered with the Archdiocese of Chicago on past sustainable food education projects, and is excited to be working with the schools on healthy lunches. "U.S. Catholic Bishops have long been leading advocates for farmers, farm workers, and ecologically responsible agricultural practices. This project offers the opportunity to take that advocacy and translate it into on-the-ground action that benefits local farmers, the environment, and the health of Archdiocese of Chicago school children."
Seven Generations Ahead (SGA) is working with Food Service Professionals (FSP) through their new Nutri Track and Farmers Market menus to incorporate healthy, locally raised food into school lunches. These specialty programs are good targets for locally and sustainably grown food because the quantities are manageable for piloting new producers, and schools requesting more nutritious offerings are interested in healthy, locally raised food. FSP can handle further processing that may be needed and the focus of the menus is on fresh and more nutritious.
While the project has just begun, potential local items for these menus include apples, baby carrots, cucumbers, lettuces, cabbage, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, green beans and snap peas. Local apples have high potential because of availability, storability and volume. Progress so far has evaluated the overall quantities of produce that FSP is purchasing and targeted specific menus and items where locally grown could be a fit. In addition, FSP has indicated willingness to do some processing of locally grown products, thereby reducing the amount of investment by farmers. Lastly, FSP is willing to adjust payment schedules on locally grown food to help farmers cash flow. This is actually a critical element since many local farmers manage business on cash basis through CSA’s and Farmers’ Markets.
The project’s next phase will be to explore with local farm partners specific products where it’s possible to meet FSP’s volume, quality and price requirements. John Koubek, Director of FSP, has long desired to bring his vision for ecological responsibility into the food service industry. "FSP’s roots are as a school food authority. There is an obligation to not only feed children, but to provide them with nutritious meals and educate them about healthy eating. Part of FSP’s mission is to be good stewards of the resources that God has provided us. Buying more local and sustainably raised food lets FSP be an example of good stewardship to students."
Warren King of WellSpring Management, Seven Generations Ahead’s sub-contractor on the project, sums it up nicely. "The FSP/SGA partnership brings two organizations together that have similar missions as it relates to food. Being of like minds makes it easier for us to work together and look for opportunities to improve the food in schools and give local farmers access to new markets. It’s about collaboration, and finding economically viable solutions that honor our children and the environment."
