By Blake Jackson
A new study from Cornell University has found that farm-to-school programs, which bring healthy foods to children and support rural economic development and local farms, actually work from an economic perspective in at least one Upstate New York school district.
The study, which was published in the journal Food Policy, analyzed the Buffalo City School District's farm-to-school program, the second largest in New York state. The researchers found that the program not only paid for itself via increased gross domestic product (GDP), but there was actually a slight return on the investment.
The study found that the program led to a clear shift in food-spending categories, with the district purchasing more fruits, vegetables, and beef from local farms. The government's enhanced reimbursement to the school district was more than offset by an expected increase in GDP due to increased demand for locally sourced food.
For every dollar in GDP the state spent to support the program, $1.06 of GDP was expected to be returned. However, the researchers note that this increase in local food spending is dependent on expansion of the related farm and food product industries — and not reallocation of existing supplies — to meet that demand.
The study's authors say that the findings are important for understanding the economic benefits of farm-to-school programs and for developing policies that support these programs.
Photo Credit: farm-to-school
Categories: New York, Business, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables, Education, Livestock, Beef Cattle