Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF)

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF) State Point of Contact: Jason Harvey USDA AMS Agreement Number: 12-25-B-1249 Final Report December 15, 2014 SELF SERVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE: WESTWOOD ELEMENTARY SALAD BAR PILOT PROJECT Project Summary: Copper Bear Farms of Guthrie, Oklahoma originally proposed this project because of the perceived barriers with farmers selling their produce direct to local schools. We also recognize the childhood diabetes epidemic and the fact that most food that children eat is grown and trucked over 1,500 miles on average before hitting the plate. We thought that growing year ‐round in a controlled environment may be one way we could help change what children are eating. If our research proved successful, which it did, we would find that schools are willing to partner with farmers to educate children and put healthy, local fresh ‐grown produce on the menu. We learned that schools need local farmers as much as local farmers need schools to buy their produce. While cost is still the number one factor prohibiting more schools from buying direct from local farmers, the educational benefits of the Farm to School Program in Oklahoma is what can help students learn to relate better to the foods they eat. Project Approach : The Specialty Crop grant awarded to Copper Bear Farms enabled us to research the costs to build and operate a hydroponic greenhouse to grow during school months and provide tomatoes and fresh lettuce to the students at St. Mary’s Catholic School of Guthrie in hopes students would eat more fresh produce and we, as farmers, could better understand the barriers to getting our product into schools through the Farm to School program. Project funds allowed for the purchase of supplies, project staff, and the writing of a comprehensive report to share with other interested farmers. We built an 8,640 SF 3 ‐bay greenhouse during the project period by providing a fifty ‐percent cost share for the project. It took two years to complete the project and another six months to research and write the comprehensive report. Hydroponic lettuce is a high ‐value specialty crop in Oklahoma. We can harvest and deliver fresh lettuce to schools the same day. If more farmers can grow for more months out of the year, specialty crop growing in Oklahoma will be enhanced. As students learn to expect more (in taste and nutrients) from the food they are offered, they may develop better eating habits. Our project partner, St. Mary’s Catholic School of Guthrie, was accommodating and welcoming. We learned about the National School Lunch Program and its practical application in a school setting. We concluded that whatever the national serving requirement of fruits and vegetables, children are still throwing a lot of food away because they do not expect to like salads or processed tomatoes and lettuce. Once they were provided fresh cherry and grape tomatoes and fresh red and green lettuces picked within hours of it becoming a salad, they began to like and eat it. Goals and Outcomes Achieved: Goals – All project goals were achieved • Provide free salad bar crops to supply the student needs (as determined by participating school) of one elementary school (St. Mary’s Catholic School) for one school year • Research and produce a business model for small greenhouse growers to partner with local schools under Farm ‐To ‐School contracts Objectives – All project objectives were achieved • Establish a year ‐round greenhouse for the project study • Produce salad bar crops in quantity and quality to supply the student needs of one elementary school for one school year • Research and conduct two surveys (fall and spring) for Business Model research to see what the impediments are to adopting healthy eating practices in school • Create school curriculum, develop teaching aids, host farm visits, teach about the scientific and economical benefits of greenhouse growing • Write a step ‐by ‐step guide to growing and putting more salad bars in Oklahoma schools Beneficiaries: The direct beneficiaries of this project were the students of St. Mary’s Catholic School of Guthrie or approximately 150 children. This project afforded free tomatoes and free lettuce during a school year to determine if children would make better eating choices (to eat or not to eat) at lunch. At the end of the project and during the farm tour, St. Mary’s children ate the fresh lettuce (red and green butterhead, leaf, and romaine) and remarked that they liked the taste of it over iceberg (actually a romaine ‐iceberg mix from the school’s distributor) and would eat more salad. The project indirectly benefited Oklahoma farmers with the production of a detailed report for public dissemination and a pictorial guide to help them build and cost a permanent greenhouse and year round hydroponic growing system. This project has the potential to impact the local economy through sales of building materials and increase in specialty crop growing in Oklahoma as well as enhance farming revenue both locally and statewide. Lessons Learned: This project was a successful endeavor to enhance the competitiveness of Oklahoma specialty crops. We created a pictorial guide to describe how other Oklahoma farmers can diversify into greenhouse growing and sell their produce to local schools. We also researched and discussed barriers and ways to overcome them to put healthy, local produce in our Oklahoma schools while building local farming enterprises. We now know the costs and requirements for local farmers to build permanent greenhouses and systems to grow during school months. We also know principals and teachers need the help of local farmers to teach about healthy eating, the science of growing food, the value of local economies and practicing family sustainability. We had originally thought schools were unable to buy from local farmers. We also thought the Federal requirements of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) would be a barrier to buying local. We found that our project partner, St. Mary’s, is eager to work with local farmers, but cost is the number one factor keeping them with a distributor rather than buying produce from local farmers. More research is needed to understand the marketing and distribution barriers of local farmers getting their produce into schools, local restaurants and with distributors. Contact Person: Lisa Kraft (405) 612 ‐8068 E-mail: [email protected] Additional Information : Appendix C: “Self ‐Serving a Healthy Lifestyle: A Business Model for Rural Farmers to Greenhouse Grow the Oklahoma Farm to School Program” written by Lisa Kraft in November 2014, as a result of this Specialty Crop Grant Project. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OKLAHOMA WINE, GRAPE JUICE, AND VINEYARDS - 2010 Project Summary: The Oklahoma Grape Industry Council (OGIC) representing over 90% of commercial vineyards and wineries in the state of Oklahoma partnering with Frank, Rimerman + Co. LLP of St Helena, CA initiated a project to document and report the economic impact of Oklahoma’s wine, grape juice, and vineyard industry. Valid information is required to move the industry forward in positive and progressive ways and to help over 250 small vineyard and winery businesses in Oklahoma make sound decisions to improve business performance and help them achieve their goals. OGIC has published economic impact analysis results in a brochure for use in marketing, education, and governmental activities. The purpose of this project was to determine the economic impact of the Grape and Wine Industry in Oklahoma. Specifically, this project resulted in a report of economic impact information including: wine sales, production, and growth rate figures; industry employment figures; grape sales, production, and revenue; tourism economic impact; equipment and supplier economic impact; and tax revenues generated by the industry. Project Approach : The OGIC contacted Frank, Rimerman + Co. LLP of St Helena, CA and requested a proposal to undertake the work proposed in the Specialty Crop Block Grant to assess the impact of the fledgling Oklahoma Grape and Wine Industry. The OGIC agreed to provide Excise Tax Information paid by Oklahoma Wineries for a two year period. Additionally, OGIC provided contact information for all known Oklahoma Wineries and Vineyards. Under contract agreement, Frank, Rimerman + Co. LLP developed Oklahoma specific questionnaires for Oklahoma’s vineyard and winery owners, and compiled information received. There was a response rate of approximately 65%. The project was initiated on February 3, 2012. Draft survey forms were received from Frank, Rimerman on March 2, 2012. A list of sixty Oklahoma Wineries and approximately 200 Vineyards along with owner contact information was forwarded to Frank, Rimerman by the OGIC Board of Directors. Surveys were sent to Oklahoma Wineries by Frank, Rimerman on March 8, 2012 followed by surveys to Vineyards on March 21, 2012. Preliminary figures in a draft preliminary report was provided ahead of schedule on May 7, 2012, and a final report was submitted to OGIC on May 22, 2012. A support agreement was signed with the Oklahoma State University, Food and Agricultural Products Center to design a print-ready brochure containing the key points of the Oklahoma Economic Impact report. The Brochure was completed and forwarded to the printer on June 24, 2012. The first printing of 10,000 brochures was received on July 6, 2012. The brochures were distributed to Oklahoma Vineyards and Wineries by OGIC. A second printing of an additional 10,000 brochures was completed on September 24, 2012. The project was projected for completion by September 15, 2012, and was actually completed on September 24, 2012. The grant was for $23,500. Expenditures were $22,390.72 plus $916.90 contribution by OGIC for printing making total expenditures for the project $23,307.62. Economic Impact Brochure Design at the Oklahoma State University Food and Agricultural Products Center was completed for $1,000 instead of the $2,000 projected in the original work plan resulting in some excess funding.

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