Food Hubs and Values-based Supply Chains in School Food This presentation is about the San Diego Unified School District Presenter: Gail Feenstra

1. Food Hubs and Values-based
Supply Chains in School Food
Gail Feenstra, UC Davis
Vanessa Zafjen, San Diego Unified SD
Jeremy West, Greeley, CO SD
Dan Carmody, Detroit Eastern Market

2. San Diego Unified School District
Potential for Big Impact
• CA’s second largest school district
• US’s 8th largest school district
• 59% F/R eligible
• $57 million annual food budget

3. SDUSD is ahead of the curve
• Farm to school specialist (coordinator) since
2010
• Established definition for local produce (tiers)
– SD Local (25 miles)
– Regional (250 miles)
– CA Grown
• Production standards (farm size, crop
diversity, organic/ sustainable practices)
• Incorporated into RFP

4. SDUSD aggregates local produce
• All produce through primary produce vendor
• F2S specialist identifies local producers, does
site visits
• One grower aggregates for several others
• Distributor now taking a more active role in
local sourcing-guided by standards (RFP),
protocols (F2S specialist)

5. Evaluation Results: Procurement
• From 0% [2009/10] to 7+% [2011/12]
• Spent $173,000 on local produce [2010/11]
• 8 local small to mid-sized farmers
– Small part of their businesses
– All but one interested in continuing relationship
– Surplus for one grower purchased by distributor
(above what SDUSD wanted) and sold

6. Reflections
• Monitor financial benefits of all parties
• Maintain flexibility
• Build capacity for distributors
• Creating new systems takes time-allow it