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2010 SESSION

10103228D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 95
Offered January 13, 2010
Prefiled January 12, 2010
Designating the second full week of November, in 2010 and in each succeeding year, as Virginia Farm-to-School Week in the Commonwealth.
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Patron-- Scott, E.T.
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the 2007 Virginia General Assembly directed the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry and the Secretary of Education to develop a plan to implement a Farm-to-School program across the Commonwealth (SJR 347), resulting in significant progress; and

WHEREAS, a strong Virginia Farm-to-School Program connects schools directly with community farmers and local food hubs; paves the way for schools to more easily purchase fresh, nutrient-rich farm products; positively impacts the lifelong healthy eating behaviors of Virginia’s children; and provides reliable, ongoing markets to support Virginia’s local agricultural economy; and

WHEREAS, since the Virginia Farm-to-School Program began in 2007, there has been a 300 percent increase in locally grown foods served in public and private schools; and during the first Farm-to-School Week, all regions of Virginia participated and 36 different locally grown Virginia foods were featured as healthy choices on school menus across the state; and

WHEREAS, Virginia public schools serve 681,505 lunches daily to nourish their students, resulting in more than 122 million lunches served during a 180-day school year. If $0.25 a day per student lunch is devoted to purchasing locally grown Virginia farm products, a total of $170,376 would be generated daily and more than $30,667,700 would be reinvested annually in Virginia communities and the economy; and

WHEREAS, there is a growing need to prioritize access to healthy foods for young people due to the critical health concerns of childhood obesity and the increasing incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in children, which are both food-related and prevalent across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, according to the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, 31 percent of Virginia’s children are overweight and 15.2 percent are obese; and

WHEREAS, all of the Virginia school districts, farms, and businesses that participated in the first Virginia Farm-to-School Week are recognized for their dedication and hard work; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Department of Education, Virginia Food System Council, and Virginia Farm-to-School Work Group are recognized for their many contributions to help develop, promote, and implement Virginia’s Farm-to-School Program plan and the first Virginia Farm-to-School Week, as well as their ongoing efforts to strengthen the connections between Virginia’s local farms and school districts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate the second full week of November, in 2010 and in each succeeding year, as Virginia Farm-to-School Week in the Commonwealth; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this week on the General Assembly's website.