Of all the goals pursued by the Buy California Initiative, perhaps none is more noble than providing more nutritious meals for California's kids. Childhood obesity is an epidemic in our schools, leading to problems later in life such as diabetes, asthma and other debilitating diseases and conditions. The initiative aims to help correct this problem with two major grants, one to enhance the ongoing "5 A Day" project and the other to the Linking Education, Activity and Food (LEAF) program. These projects take divergent paths, but both seek to lead children to better health.

When CDFA hosted sessions around the state in late 2001 and asked members of California's agricultural community to recommend their preferred uses for these grant funds, one of the most common answers was "Support 5 a Day." Growers and consumers alike recognize this long-standing and successful program encouraging all of us to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

With grants to support the national Children's "5 a Day Power Play" Campaign and the national 5 a Day project, the Buy California Initiative helps expand nutrition efforts that encourage consumption of California-grown fruits and vegetables nationwide.

This substantial grant augments funding for the implementation of the Pupil Nutrition, Health and Achievement Act of 2001 (SB 19), which sets nutritional standards for all foods and beverages sold on school campuses. The Linking Education, Activity and Food (LEAF) program, administered by the California Department of Education (CDE), has put the Buy California Initiative grant funds into action by awarding grants to several school districts to develop policies pursuant to the new law, and then to conduct 21-month pilot programs based on the new policies. The pilot programs will put more fruits and vegetables in school meals; expand vending machine choices to include fruit, non-fried vegetables, water, low-sugar foods and beverages, and other more healthful choices; establish and maintain school gardens; conduct field trips to local farms and farmers' markets; provide professional development for child nutrition and food service staff; and enact other measures to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables on campus. The measures to be implemented at each district are set by local advisory committees created by the Public Nutrition, Health and Achievement Act.

Additionally, CDFA awarded Competitive Grants that will research the health attributes and disease prevention potential of California specialty crops. Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables has been linked with reducing the occurrence of chronic diseases. These health benefits may be due to the many vitamins, minerals and fibers found in fresh fruits and vegetables.

Click here to see a listing of these grants and learn more about their project status.