Food in the News by Shelley Lance, Blog Editor
Two encouraging articles in this week’s papers:
An article called “Stars Aligning on School Lunches” by Kim Severson in today’s New York Times reports that ideas and money are flowing in the direction of improving nutrition in public school lunches, and notes the fact “that the nutritional state of America’s children is a priority for President Obama doesn’t hurt….” Congress will take up the Child Nutrition Act this year, perhaps as early as October. Ideas under discussion to improve school lunches: increase the free-lunch subsidy by at least 70 cents; ban trans fats in school cafeteria kitchens; equip school kitchens so healthier food can actually be cooked on site (”If they don’t give me a steamer, I can’t steam a vegetable… I have to deep fry it” said Katie Wilson, “…a Wisconsin food service director with 30 years of experience.”) Another big issue is changing the way the USDA “helps agricultural companies sell surplus foods (to public school lunch programs) like beef and chicken that is usually processed into packaged products like taco meat or nuggets.” Read the whole article here.
An article in last Monday’s Seattle Times, “Free for the taking….so take!” by Kyung M. Song, reports on a temporary produce stand, or mobile market, set up on “the main drag of a Southwest Seattle neighborhood so bereft of grocers that one local resident calls it a health food desert.” The produce stand is run by Delridge Produce Cooperative, set up this year with a $15,000 grant from the city of Seattle, which “aims to educate residents about adding green to their diets by seeking out fresh produce.” The grant includes paying two teens to work the stand. The co-op’s ultimate goal?…. a nearby store selling organic produce at affordable prices in the Delridge neighborhood. Read the whole article here.
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