Procurement of foods in Mississippi Delta schools

Authors: LANDRY, ALICIA - University Of Central Arkansas; Thomson, Jessica; Walls, Tameka

Submitted to: Journal of Child Nutrition and Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2022
Publication Date: 5/2/2022
Citation: Landry, A.S., Thomson, J.L., Walls, T.I. 2022. Procurement of foods in Mississippi Delta schools. Journal of Child Nutrition and Management. 46(1). Available: https://schoolnutrition.org/NewsPublications/JCNM/2022/Spring/.

Interpretive Summary: Agriculture is the number one industry in Mississippi, employing about 17% of the state’s workforce on nearly 35,000 farms. Using traditional agricultural strengths of Mississippi may offer a unique way to address childhood obesity in this state. Providing information to local food producers about types and amounts of foods being purchased by local schools may help them see the benefits of supplying schools with their products. Likewise, such information is useful for child nutrition professionals to better understand their purchasing power and where their food dollars are being spent. Hence, the objective of the study was to determine school food purchasing amounts (weight and cost) in two Mississippi school districts to show the potential economic and agricultural impacts of purchasing local. Purchasing records from two rural, Mississippi Delta school districts for school years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 were used. Foods were classified into eight groups – fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, dairy, added sugars, fats, and miscellaneous. Schools purchased many types and large amounts of fruits (n=19; 146,678 pounds) and vegetables (n=20; 100,779 pounds) in the two school years. Although most of the fruits and vegetables purchased are grown in Mississippi, very little if any was purchased from local sources. Connecting school administrators with local producers is necessary for bringing about positive effects on school nutrition programs and local agricultural economies.

Technical Abstract: Purpose/Objectives: The objective of the present study was to determine school food procurement amounts (weight and cost) in two Mississippi school districts to illustrate the potential economic and agricultural impacts of purchasing local foods for use in school meals. Methods: School food procurement data from two school districts (one participating in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program [FFVP] and one not participating) located in the rural Mississippi Delta were collected for this observational study. Data collection covered two academic years, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. Research staff members, trained in nutritional methodology, coded and classified foods into eight categories – fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, dairy, added sugars, fats, and miscellaneous. Summary statistics (food group amounts and percentages) were computed for descriptive purposes. Results: For the non-FFVP district, the largest procurement amounts for fruit and vegetable categories were juices and potatoes, while for the FFVP district, they were apples and potatoes. The varieties of fruits and vegetables procured for the FFVP district were larger than the non-FFVP district (16-18 vs. 12 different fruits; 19-20 vs. 17-18 different vegetables). For both districts and years combined, 146,678 pounds of fruit and 100,779 pounds of vegetables were purchased. Application to Child Nutrition Professionals: Although school districts purchase substantial amounts of fruits and vegetables, very little is procured locally. Enhancing readily available identification of local items, offering training opportunities focused on rural and small school districts regarding how to procure local foods within constraints, and continuing efforts like the Farm to School Census are all ways to promote procurement of local items. Likewise, engagement of school administrators with local producers is necessary for mutually beneficial effects on school nutrition programs and local agricultural economies.