,,iii  #aafth ,,congress  #ast ,session 
,s4 ,,res4 #djc  ,,in ,,the ,,senate    
,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states  ,october  
#ca1 #bjai,mr4 ,leahy 7for himself1 ,ms4
 ,collins1 ,mr4 ,brown1 and ,mr4        
,perdue7 submitted the following        
resolution2 which was considered and    
agreed to  ,,resolution  ,designating   
,october #bjai as ,national ,farm to    
,school ,month4  ,whereas farm to school
 programs of varying scale operate in   
nearly #dc1jjj schools across the       
,united ,states2 ,whereas farm to school
 programs connect schools and local     
farms in order to-- 7#a7 serve          
nutritious meals in school cafeterias2  
and  7#b7 support local farmers1        
ranchers1 and fishermen2 ,whereas farm  
to school programs include experiential 
education components that can lead to   
permanent improvements in the diets of  
children1 both in school and at home2   
,whereas farm to school programs        
facilitate the purchase of local food   
for school meals2 ,whereas farm to      

school programs can benefit small and   
mid-sized agricultural producers by     
providing access to consistent markets2 
,whereas farm to school programs can be 
particularly important for beginning or 
socially disadvantaged farmers1 as      
schools provide a consistent and secure 
customer base2 ,whereas farm to school  
programs can benefit local economies2   
,whereas for every #a spent on local    
foods in schools1 up to an additional #b
 circulates in the local economy2       
,whereas data from the ,centers for     
,disease ,control and ,prevention shows 
that only #g percent of children consume
 the recommended amount of vegetables2  
,whereas communities with high levels of
 poverty have less access to fresh      
fruits and vegetables than higher income
 communities2 ,whereas the increased    
consumption of fresh fruits and         
vegetables is #a of #f major strategies 
to prevent and control obesity1         
according to the ,centers for ,disease  
,control and ,prevention2 ,whereas      

studies have demonstrated that children 
in schools with an active farm to school
 program increase their average         
consumption of fresh fruits and         
vegetables by #a or more servings per   
day2 ,whereas farm to school programs-- 
7#a7 are popular among children2  7#b7  
can increase interest in school meal    
programs2 and  7#c7 can decrease food   
waste2 and  ,whereas ,october #bjai     
would be an appropriate month to        
designate as ,national ,farm to ,school 
,month3 ,now1 therefore1 be it  ,that   
the ,senate-- 7#a7 designates ,october  
#bjai as ,national ,farm to ,school     
,month2  7#b7 recognizes support for    
policy improvements to farm to school   
programs in legislation reauthorizing   
child nutrition programs2  7#c7         
encourages schools and local educational
 agencies to use local farm products in 
meals2 and  7#d7 encourages schools1    
farmers and farm groups1 local          
businesses1 nonprofit institutions1     
churches1 cities1 ,state governments1   

and other local groups to raise         
awareness of farm to school efforts in  
their communities4