Imagine…

• Delicious and nutritious Oregon food served up on the lunch plates of every Oregon student!
• Garden-based teaching in all subject areas making sure our children experience the magic of growing, tasting and enjoying wholesome food.
• Oregon farmers, food processors and manufacturers selling great food to Oregon schools.

Now, that's a WIN-WIN situation - Expanding Oregon's agricultural economy AND providing wholesome food and nutrition education for our kids! How can we make this vision a reality? We need the Oregon Legislature to pass HB 3601 during this special session. But time is short and your participation is critical!

HB 3601 funds a pilot farm to school and school garden program at the Department of Education. ODE must increase capacity in order to provide needed expertise to respond to new opportunities and responsibilities. There is no more room to squeeze resources from existing budgets.

Why is HB 3601 urgent this year?

Inter-agency coordination is essential. The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) faces a critical shortage of resources to ensure the new farm-to-school activities in the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) will benefit school districts large AND small, all across the state.
New state and local policies create time sensitive opportunities. Oregon's Department of Agriculture is already at work developing five new Oregon products for schools. Yet, ODE is the only agency with the expertise to make sure schools can cut through federal red tape and get these foods on the lunch line.
School and private sector partnerships show school food programs are an urgent priority. From the implementation of district wellness policies to the need for expertise in promoting farm to school and school garden education, ODE needs funding to be able to step up to the plate.

HB 3601 received an enthusiastic response in the House Education Committee. Now, we need to let all the House members know that the bill has the support of people like you all across Oregon.

Legislators are very sensitive to funding issues with the economic outlook report coming soon and worries about where best to spend Oregonians' tax money. You can help them focus. Focus on improving the Oregon economy and improving childhood nutrition to reduce our epidemic of overweight kids. HB 3601 will accomplish both of these things!

Check out a great editorial from the Oregonian:

Here's how you can help:

Email your Oregon Representative and Senator today. We need to tell them both why HB 3601 is important but also why it needs to happen this year!

1. To find your State Representative and Senator and their email address click here.

2. Write your Representative a polite but persuasive email. See a sample email below.

3. Please let Mel Rader know that you contacted your representative so that we can track the responses:
mel@upstreampublichealth.org

---------

Dear Representative _____:

I urge you to support HB 3601. It fills a critical gap at the Department of Education so we can incorporate Oregon foods into school meals and promote food gardens. This bill simultaneously supports Oregon farmers and food processors, while improving nutrition knowledge and choices for our school children.

This legislation is needed NOW because a number of changes in school food regulation make it essential that we have an expert at the Department of Education to help schools cut through red tape to create a new generation of school foods, and a new generation of Oregon children growing and eating good food.

The current program at the Department of Agriculture works with farmers and food processors to develop new food products. It is essential we also have a corresponding position at the Department of Education to work with schools to make sure they can utilize those products.

Sincerely,

Your Name