eval report cover.indd - New Jersey Farm to School Network Wiki

RSD-CA: RIVERSIDE UNIFIED SCHOOLDISTRICT (RUSD), CALIFORNIARiverside UnifiedSchool District, CAFree / reduced mealeligibility: 47.5%Total schools: 47Enrollment: 43,052Demographics:50.6 % Hispanic, 34.5% WhiteLocal product used in:Salad bars as USDAreimbursable mealOther programcomponents: In-classnutrition education, saladbar etiquette trainings, farmtours, farmer in the classroom,Harvest of the Month program►►The RSD-CA program was started off at JeffersonElementary School in March 2005. Theevaluation of the RSD-CA program focused onthe implementation of the program at one school only(Jeff e rson), though the program has since expanded andas of January 2007 was operational in five schools. Theevaluation was conducted by the Center for Food & Justice,Occidental College. Indicators studied were:►►►School District Produce Purchases: Monthlydata on total fruit and vegetable purchases forthe district and for the two local farmers was collectedfrom invoices and year-end budgets.Student Meal Participation: Collected on amonthly basis for salad bar and hot meal optionsat Jefferson Elementary.Student Food Choices: (a) Food service dailyproduction records were collected at Jeff e rsonElementary to analyze the number of servingsof fruits and vegetables per student for salad barand hot lunch.Challenges/Lessons Learned: Interviews with key stakeholders, including the saladbar coordinator, the food service director, kitchen personnel, school principal andfarmers were conducted.Financial Viability: Some data necessary to calculate the cost of the salad bar mealversus the hot meal and the financial viability of the program was collected. However,CFJ realized that there was inadequate data to make any inferences on thisindicator.Th e Jeff e rson Farm to School pilot program was supported by a two year grant from TheCalifornia Endowment, which also supported the evaluation activities. Th u s, data from thisproject was only available over a two year period and only for one school site. An in-depthevaluation of the fiscal viability of the program at the school district level as well as gatheringimpact evaluation data from all the school sites may be useful.Unlike some other programs which report difficulties in obtaining food service records,data collection for this evaluation was made easier due to a supportive food service directorand staff at RUSD.Riverside Farm to School Demonstration Project, Final Grant Report December 1, 2004 to November 30, 2006,submitted by Center for Food & Justice, UEPI, Occidental College to the California Endowment.Conclusions Farm to School and Program RecommendationsProfileswww.farmtoschool.org 79