New Poll Finds Disconnect Between Parental Support for Better School Nutrition and Awareness of Heathly Eating Options and Programs
A new statewide survey commissioned by RuralVotes finds that while an overwhelming majority of Massachusetts parents believe it is important that Massachusetts grown and produced foods are served at schools, few are even aware that farm to school programs exist.
The target universe, was 606 residents between 25-60 years old, who had children living in their home and who participated in school nutrition programs.
"We found that only 25.9% of respondents were familiar with farm to school programs where locally grown fruits, vegetables and farm products are served in the cafeteria," said Debra Kozikowski, co-director of RuralVotes, an advocacy organization focused on initiatives to revitalize rural America. Kozikowski added that "Even though many people (72.1%) are unaware of farm to school programs that may exist, it is clear that a strong majority (76.7%) believe it is extremely important that their children get better nutrition at their schools and an even larger majority (84.2%) believe locally grown foods should be served."
The survey, which was released at the Hingham Middle School as part of National School Lunch Week, also measured support for nutrition policy reforms at the federal level. The U.S. House passed version of the 2007 Farm Bill expands the Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Snack Program to include all 50 states and increases funding from $9 million to $70 million over the next five years.
The poll found that 58.3% of Bay State parents strongly support this change with rural citizens, suburbanites and western Massachusetts residents most in favor.
Similarly, 56.3% strongly support another provision of the Farm Bill's nutrition title that would give the Secretary of Agriculture greater authority to regulate the sale of junk food in vending machines outside of the cafeteria. Older people and women were most supportive of this section.
"My district is the fourth most-rural in Massachusetts, and I would rather see students drinking cranberry juice and munching veggies from the bogs and farms in Plymouth and Barnstable counties than consuming unhealthy junk foods shipped in from miles away," U.S. Rep. William D. Delahunt told seventh and eighth graders gathered in the school cafeteria.
Noting that Hingham (Mass.) is one of only of four school systems in his 41-community congressional district to participate in farm to school, Delahunt said "no pun intended, but this data indicates to me that here in Massachusetts, the public is hungry for reform of nutrition policy and that is very good news.
I hope that over the next five years of this reauthorization, more school districts in my district will begin to buy local."
The poll found a majority (53.8%) agree that government should require local farm products be served at Massachusetts schools. Young people, residents south of Boston, in western Massachusetts and in rural areas were the most likely to believe in this directive.
"Our state's 6,000 farmers produce an abundant bounty of farm products, yet in the 2006-2007 school year, only 213,800 students out of a total statewide enrollment of 972,000 pupils are getting access to this fresh and healthful harvest according to the Massachusetts Farm to School Project," said Matt L. Barron, co-director of RuralVotes. "There is tremendous potential for growth, but parents need to make demands on their elected school committees and local officials for that to occur."
