FoodHub Blog News and stories from the FoodHub community

New stats from the Organics Trade Association show that the organic food industry has reached more than $29 billion in sales.

Overall, organic food sales experienced 9.4% growth in 2011 and now represent 4.2% of all food sales in the industry. Organic fruits and vegetables contributed close to 50% of those new dollars with organic meat, fish and poultry experiencing the fastest growth in the sector, posting 13% growth over 2010 sales. Of all organic operations nationwide 94% are planning to maintain or increase their employment in 2012.

These stats and more are illustrated on the info graphic below and were generated from a 2012 survey from the Association that explores the impact of the organics industry on the US economy and jobs market. According to Executive Director, Christine Bushway, this is the first time the overall organic sector of the economy has surpassed the $30 billion mark. Of that, $2 billion was spent on organic non-food items.

With close to 200 schools and preschools on FoodHub and more than 2,500 thriving Farm to School programs nationwide, it’s safe to say that school food is changing for the better. But, in case you had any lingering doubts that kids will actually eat their vegetables, take a look at some examples of school meals in the rest of the world!

A whole artichoke served for lunch in France, juicy fresh tomato halves and smoked mackerel in Slovakia, a multi-course meal (for school lunch!) made up of organic, local ingredients in Italy? Yes, please!

There’s no doubt in our minds that kids will eat their veggies, and school lunches around the world seem to reflect the same. However, quality ingredients accompanied by food systems education is key: When fresh, local foods get paired with a lesson about where food comes from and how it is grown, we create engaged eaters who are excited by the thought of eggplants, yellow carrots, and leafy greens.

That’s why we’re so excited about the connections happening between schools and farmers on FoodHub: because good food is all about relationships. The connections between schools and farms, and between students and their food, are crucial to developing a nation of healthy eaters. You might remember reading about the successful FoodHub matches made by the Gervais School District, Portland Public Schools, or by Pete Mulligan of Bull Run Cider, who sold local kiwis to several nearby school districts.

Make your own FoodHub connections with these tips:

Sellers: Use the Member Directory to search for schools near you. Suggest a product or two that you can supply, or offer to host a field trip, or talk to kids in the classroom about where their food comes from and how it’s grown.

School food buyers: It’s possible that you’re already sourcing some items locally (ask your distributor!). Use FoodHub to strike up a relationship with a local farm to source an item or two, then highlight these local items in the cafeteria and with your school community (teachers, parents, etc.), so they know about the good work you’re doing.

And, associates: Show your support! Do you have connections or expertise that could help a school district to move forward with farm to school? A little positive community support can go a long way.

Here’s to a school lunch that might look a bit more familiar to the rest of the world: real food, grown nearby, with the relationships to make it work. Yum!