Missouri Farm to School Conference

The University of Missouri Extension is hosting a statewide Farm to School conference. This one day conference will feature an exciting array of speakers that will discuss how schools and producers can work together to increase the amount of local products served in school meal programs. The conference will include time for school food service staff and local producers to meet and network. Local farmers, processors, distributors, school personnel and others interested in the use of local foods in schools should attend.

The Missouri Farm to School Conference: Growing Together will be held on October 20, 2015 at the University of Missouri’s Bradford Farm, 4968 Rangeline Road, Columbia MO.

Register at: muconf.missouri.edu/farmtoschool/  Cost: $30.00

Agenda

8:30 am – Registration

9:00 am – Welcome

9:15 am - Keynote: Farm to School: Connecting the Dots, Anupama Joshi, Executive Director and Co-Founder National Farm to School Network

10:15 - 11:15 am  - How Selling/Purchasing Local Products Works in Schools: The USDA Procurement Regulations with Bob Gorman, Mountains Plains Region, Farm to School, USDA and Karen Wooton, Director, Section of School Food Service, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Breakout Sessions

11:30 am - Producer Track                                         

Food Safety/Traceablity/ Liability, Charlie Hopper - AgriMissouri-Program Coordinator, Missouri Department of Agriculture

11:30 am - Food Service Track

How to Locate Local Products Panel:

• Farmer - Steve Hamra, Owner. Hamra Farms

• Produce Auctions - James Quinn, Regional Horticulture Specialist, University of Missouri Extension

• School Food Service Director - Carmen Fischer, MS, RD, SNS, Director of Child Nutrition Services, Rockwood School District

            • Distributor - Matt Erhardt, Produce Buyer, Kohl Wholesale

12:30 - Local Lunch — Catered by Columbia Public Schools’ Culinary Arts Program

Breakout Sessions

1:30 - 2:30 pm - Producers Track

Building Distribution Systems

• Patty Cantrell, Principal, Regional Food Systems

• Johnice Cross, Local Foods Consultant, Turtle Moon Farm

1:30 - 2:30 pm - Food Service Track

Resources and Success Stories

USDA/Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

• Bob Gorman, Mountain Plains Region Farm to School

• Karen Wooton, Director, Section of School Food Services

University of Missouri Extension

• Lorin Fahrmeier, Farm to School Coordinator

Missouri Department of Agriculture

• Lindsey Jones, Farm to School Coordinator

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

• Alma Hopkins, Nutrition Specialist, Team Nutrition

Southern Boone Learning Garden

            • Jenny Grabner, Executive Director

3:00 pm - Forward Contracting and Geographic Preference — Bob Gorman, Mountains Plains Region Farm to School, USDA

4:00 pm - Roundtable Discussion/Networking

5:00 pm - Closing remarks — Anupama Joshi, Executive Director and Co-Founder, National FTS Network