Poverty in Baltimore, a serious problem in the best of times, has worsened with the current recession.
A recent New York Times article on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - what used to be called Food Stamps - states that 1 in 8 Americans and 1 in 4 children now participate. Here in Baltimore, as of Oct. 31, the public school system had 83.6 percent participation in the free and reduced price meals (FARM) program, an increase of 10 percentage points or 9,000 more students compared with the same date in 2008. The actual FARM rate may be as high as 87 percent.
High poverty means limited purchasing power and tough consumer decisions, especially when it comes to food. Many families suffer from "food insecurity," the lack of regular access to enough nutritious food for an adequate diet.
Many of Baltimore's impoverished neighborhoods are what the public health community labels "food deserts" - areas with little or no access to foods needed to maintain a healthy diet. One can drive through east and west Baltimore and see little more than fast food options of fried chicken and lake trout and a scattering of corner stores. These areas lack the offerings of fresh fruits and vegetables and supermarkets where more reasonably priced groceries can be purchased. Consequently, a disproportionate number of residents suffer from Type II diabetes, hypertension and many other chronic diseases that are caused (or made worse) by poor diet.
One way we can support these struggling families and all Baltimore City school students is by promoting participation in the National School Lunch program. Tony Geraci, head of the Food and Nutrition Department at Baltimore City Schools, is trying to persuade the district to take part in the USDA's Provision 2 program. This program allows for all students to receive free meals at school, regardless of income eligibility.
Free food for low-income kids sounds great - but aren't school lunches usually not very "healthy"? That's the perception, and it's true in many school districts. But in the past few years, Mr. Geraci's department has been dedicated to providing students with fresh fruits and vegetables and working with local farms in getting produce from local farms to school cafeterias.
The department has launched Great Kids Farm in Catonsville, which provides some fresh fruits and vegetables for school cafeterias and sells some produce to local restaurants, such as Woodberry Kitchen. In addition, a move is in the works to start a central kitchen, a facility that can provide nutritious meals to the many schools that do not have the cooking capabilities for anything other than heating up frozen meals.
Also, last fall Mr. Geraci introduced the "Meatless Monday" program to reduce the saturated fat in the school diet and expose children to a greater variety of grains, fruits and vegetables.
The Provision 2 model, complemented by the central kitchen, Great Kids Farm and Meatless Monday initiatives, can radically improve the health and academic achievement of city schools students in a number of ways.
The Provision 2 model would significantly increase the purchasing power and economies of scale for the Food and Nutrition Department, resulting in better quality bulk produce at cheaper prices and, with the central kitchen, preparation of more nutritious meals. In addition, since all students would receive free meals, the social stigma that arises with participation in these poverty programs is eliminated. Further, several studies have shown that participating in the school lunch program can lead to better nutrition, resulting in increased attendance and punctuality and improved academic performance, behavior and learning environments.
Finally, by continuing to purchase from local producers, the city school system is supporting Maryland farmers, receiving quality produce and being socially and environmentally conscious and active against the many problems associated with Big Agriculture.
To be fair, there are cost feasibility concerns with implementing the Provision 2 model, such as whether the administrative savings and economies of scale can offset the increased financial burden of providing meals to all students, and also whether the model will negatively impact federal and state funding to the district and individual schools. These implications are currently being closely examined by school officials.
Adopting the Provision 2 model is another area in which Baltimore can shine as a pioneer in innovative public policy ideas and programs. With Tony Geraci's dedication to providing nutritious meals to our kids and supporting the local food movement, this is not only a public health win but also a win for sustainable and local farming in Maryland.
Baltimore could lead a nationwide movement of partnerships between school districts and farms by simultaneously supporting local farmers, reducing the environmental damage from industrial agriculture and improving the public health of our students.
Arnold Joo, a graduate student in public policy at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, works as a CEO graduate intern with the Baltimore City Public Schools. His e-mail is arnold.joo@gmail .com.