Looking locally

MANLIUS — Boosting health and the economy.

The Bureau Valley School Board approved a plan Monday that should boost the local economy and improve the health of the district’s children.

In February, the board discussed a plan to procure local food for the district, whether it be food raised on Bureau Valley property or in the greenhouse, or purchased locally. The board directed Superintendent Terry Gutshall to set up an ad hoc committee to meet and report back to the board in March.

On Monday, board member Keith Bolin, who spearheaded the project, reported on those committee discussions. Bolin said 29 area residents attended at least one of the four meetings held.

Bolin said the committee discussed the possible procurement of locally grown raw commodities such as fruits and vegetables for the school food program, development of a demonstration garden on district grounds for the purpose of providing a percentage of locally grown food, and establishing procedures for accepting produce from local producers.

After a lengthy discussion, the board unanimously approved several actions designed to boost the local economy and to increase the consumption of locally-grown food in the district’s cafeterias, beginning this fall.

“We’re going to try to stimulate the local economy the best we can,” Gutshall said. “We want to keep revenue local instead of letting it go out of the area.”

This year it cost Bureau Valley $280,000 to feed its 1,100 students for 176 days. Bolin said the goal of the project is to substitute 5 percent of that, or about $14,000, with local food.
Any local producer wishing to sell or donate fruits or vegetables to the district would be required to successfully complete a one-hour food safety course. The course will teach the basic food rules and codes that impact the sale and donation receipt of raw commodities. This requirement will exceed all federal, state and local guidelines.

And local doesn’t just mean Bureau Valley. Bolin said anyone in Bureau or any of the adjoining counties are encouraged to get their certification and become part of the program.

The district will also issue simple guidelines and pricing structure for the receipt of raw commodities. A posting of those guidelines and pricing structures will be available in the near future on the Bureau Valley Web site at www.bhsroe.k12.il.us/bureauvalley/.
The board also approved the district growing some of its own fruits and vegetables in a demonstration garden. A committee will be formed to oversee the garden, and any over-production will be allocated to needy families, clubs and others who support the garden.