Bill urges schools to serve locally grown food

PALMER — With the stroke of his pen Tuesday, Gov. Sean Parnell put more Alaska fruits and vegetables into school cafeterias.

“You have yourself a farm-to-school program,” Parnell said, putting down his pen.

The bill was a project Rep. Carl Gatto, R-Palmer, pushed through the legislature this year. Gatto said it not only brings more local produce into school lunches but also creates opportunities for children to learn about agriculture and nutrition. It wasn’t a tough sell to his colleagues.

“A 60 to 0 vote is pretty amazing. That tells you something about the entire state supporting what we’re doing here in Palmer,” Gatto said.

He said he didn’t get the legislation passed alone. Indeed, Parnell signed the bill with multiple pens, giving one each to Gatto and Reps. Bill Stolze, R-Chugiak, and Jay Ramras, R-Fairbanks.

In his sponsor’s statement for the bill, Gatto said the legislation strengthens an existing state law that requires schools to purchase locally produced food if it isn’t more than 7 percent more expensive than imported food.

He said the bill sets up a formal farm-to-school program with policies and procedures for procuring the food and evaluating the program.

It will have school officials working with farmers to make a more stable system to pair supply with demand.

The bill “also gives schools the authorization to create a school garden or even a farm,” Gatto wrote. “In doing so, they must allow students representing student organizations the opportunity to be involved in the garden or farm operation. Schools may teach both organic and traditional farming methods.”

Introducing Gatto and Parnell was Palmer High School agriculture teacher Don Berberich, who said the signing was likely the first event of its kind to take place at the school.

“We all know Alaskan-grown fruits and vegetables taste better than all the rest,” he said, eliciting cheers from the crowd. “I encourage all of you to take up a spade this summer and get a little crazy about farming.”

The signing ceremony, actually more of a hybrid between a signing ceremony and a Palmer High School assembly, took place at 1 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium. With Parnell’s signature, the bill became law.

As for the school assembly elements of the program, Parnell and Gatto were handed Alaska Grown hats and Parnell was handed a Palmer High sweatshirt, which he modeled for the crowd.

Palmer High School Principal Wolfgang Winter, wearing a straw cowboy hat in observance of the school’s “Dress Like a Farmer” day, presented Parnell with a “Spirit of the Moose” award.

He described it for the crowd as a moose nugget shellacked to a decorative base.

“In times of great trials you can always rely on the power of the moose,” he told the governor.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.