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Waugh Introduces Healthy Farms & Healthy Schools Initiative
HARRISBURG -- Sen.
Mike Waugh (R-York) and Sen. Shirley Kitchen (D-Philadelphia) have jointly
introduced legislation to establish an innovative new program aimed at promoting
the state's agricultural products and encouraging young people to eat a
healthier diet.
Senate Bill
1209 would create the Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools initiative, a program to
deliver locally-grown farm products to school students. Waugh said his
legislation will support local farmers, who will provide the food products, and
help children choose healthy alternatives such as fruits and vegetables over
snacks that are high in salt, sugar and fats.
"The rise in
childhood obesity is a troubling tendency, and the Healthy Farms and Healthy
Schools initiative is one way we can reverse this trend," said Waugh, who chairs
the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. "This program will give
kids a healthy option and provide more direct marketing opportunities to our
local farmers."
The Healthy
Farms and Healthy Schools initiative was piloted in several Philadelphia Schools
and currently serves more than 900 students in the Philadelphia region. The
Food Trust's pilot program served more than 48,600 healthy snacks in its first
year. The program currently serves 11 schools in the Philadelphia area with
plans to expand to a total of 14 schools in September 2006.
"The Healthy
Farms and Healthy Schools program is great tool for teaching children about the
value of nutrition," said Kitchen. "The pilot program has been very successful
here in the Philadelphia schools, and I hope we can bring this program to
schools across the Commonwealth."
"We applaud
Senator Waugh and Senator Kitchen for introducing this ground-breaking
legislation that will promote good nutrition among our children and support
Pennsylvania farms," said The Food Trust Executive Director Yael Lehmann.
The program
will also provide educators with greater resources for nutrition and
agricultural education. However, Waugh said that the Healthy Farms and Healthy
Schools program would not be limited to the classroom. Programs would also
include field trips to nearby farms, and parents, caregivers and community
groups would also be given the opportunity to participate.
Senate Bill
1209 is part of the Farmers First Agenda, a comprehensive package of legislation
to promote agriculture in Pennsylvania announced by Waugh and Senator Noah
Wenger (R-Lancaster) in 2005.
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