Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Food and Sustainability
  •  

California Lawmaker Wants To Buy Organic For School Meals

  •  Julia Mitric 
Wednesday, April 24, 2019 | Sacramento, CA
Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

School lunch at Encina, 2017

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

One lawmaker wants to put more organic food on California’s school lunch trays.

Under the bill, which would launch a California Organic-to-School pilot program, school districts could apply to the California Department of Food and Agriculture for an additional 15 cents per breakfast or lunch meal to buy organic produce, dairy, meat and eggs from California growers. The program would prioritize grant funding to schools serving low-income students, as well as those living in rural areas.

Nationally, school districts have a food budget of roughly $1.25 to spend on each free and reduced lunch, according to an estimate by the Natural Resources Defense Council, which sponsored the bill.

The operating costs of school meal programs vary throughout California, according to Cynthia Butler of the California Department of Education. Some of the key variables are labor, transportation and food costs. In addition, a school district’s kitchen capacity can limit the amount of fresh, unprocessed foods.

Lena Brook, NRDC director of food campaigns, says the pilot program would also support California’s climate goals, in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. She argues that organic farming is the only program that ensures big buyers — such as school districts — that there are good soil-health practices behind the food they purchase.  

"We know that farming practices like cover-cropping [and] crop rotation can help trap carbon [and] pull it out of the atmosphere. [T]his is a really important way, from a food system standpoint, that we can help mitigate climate change," Brook said.

Right now, the majority of school districts don't spend their budget on organic food because it usually costs more than products from out-of-state and conventional growers, according to Evan Wiig, communications director for the Community Alliance with Family Farmers. The group, which advocates on behalf of sustainable farming in California, supports the pilot program.

The state’s colleges and universities are not required to buy California-grown, let alone organic foods. So, opening the K-12 market to California’s organic growers would be “a huge leverage point to make systemic change to how our food is grown,” Wiig said.

Lawmakers supporting the bill are pursuing $2 million in funding. The state budgeted roughly $164 million to reimburse K-12 school districts for free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch meals for 2018-19 , according to figures from the California Department of Education.

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated what reimbursements to school districts covers. The $1.25 is for each free and reduced lunch and does not include labor costs.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

Julia Mitric

Former Food And Sustainability Reporter

For Julia, food and life are inseparable.   Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Sacramento amends ballot measure that would ban homeless encampments. What voters should know

August 10, 2022

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Sacramento police accountability report raises transparency concerns, watchdogs say

August 8, 2022

Chris Nichols / CapRadio

Sacramento County bans homeless camps along the American River Parkway and near schools, libraries

August 11, 2022

Most Viewed

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

California coronavirus updates: LA County moves out of high COVID-19 infection tier

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

Parties, stolen cars, a gun: 9 police complaints at Council member Sean Loloee’s disputed North Sacramento residence

Standard or daylight saving time? California changes its plans again after Congressional resolution.

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

California coronavirus updates: LA County moves out of high COVID-19 infection tier

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

Parties, stolen cars, a gun: 9 police complaints at Council member Sean Loloee’s disputed North Sacramento residence

Standard or daylight saving time? California changes its plans again after Congressional resolution.

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.