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The Department of Education recently put out a request for information from potential vendors in order to develop a request for proposals to bring more local produce, proteins, and packaged foods into school cafeterias. This initiative aims to promote healthy eating habits among students while also supporting local agricultural industry.
This movement towards local sourcing in schools isn't entirely new.
This appears to be a continuation of efforts this year to get poi made from fresh local kalo, and local sweet potato into school cafeterias. According to the news release, statewide, students have access to locally-sourced ground beef, tomato, papaya, and green onion. Schools in O’ahu also have local cucumbers, while schools on Hawaii Island have local bananas too.
Earlier this year, significant steps were taken in implementing this approach on the island of O'ahu.
In May, according to a Hawaii Department of Education press release, more than 70 schools on O’ahu offered local poi to students and staff as part of their regular school menus. The news release notes that this was the first time in more than a decade that fresh, local poi had been served. More than 23,000 servings were allocated to participating schools on O’ahu in a first-come, first-served situation. Schools that did not receive poi were encouraged to bring local u’ala (or sweet potato) onto their lunch menus. The news release notes that students reacted favorably to the additions to the menu.
Beyond individual initiatives by schools or districts, there are several dedicated programs working towards the same goal.
The Farm to School program in Hawaii has a variety of nonprofit-private sector partnerships and other organizations that offer support in efforts to get and keep local produce, proteins, and food staples into the cafeterias, according to the Hawaii Department of Education website on the Farm to School program’s background. One of those includes the Hawaii Farm to School and School Gardens Hui, which is a partnership across all of the islands that are working to build capacity, develop resources and share information and in advocacy efforts to ensure fresh foods are available in the schools.
Interested vendors can find more details on this request for information through an official publication.
The request for information has been published in the Hawaii Awards and Notification Data System. It is available here: https://hands.ehawaii.gov/hands/opportunities/opportunity-details/23459
