History repeating itself? History repeating itself? (July 14, 2004)

District's efforts to serve up organic fare flopped

by Alexandria Rocha

The local school district is no stranger to the healthy food revolution.

In August 2002, the district's food service provider, Sodexho USA, attempted to sell organic food at the district's 12 elementary schools. The plan was to serve various organic options, such as macaroni and cheese, burritos, penne pasta, applesauce, juice and milk, in addition to the regular lunch items.

However, lack of interest from kids, problems with distributors and little publicity to parents resulted in the program's quick failure. By October that school year, hardly any organic meals had been purchased.

"It wasn't a resounding success, and I don't remember there was a big interest in what was being offered," said Mandy Lowell, a member of the district's Board of Education.

The decision to go organic was prompted by an experimental taste-off at Ohlone Elementary School in spring 2002. The taste-off proved a success and the decision to sell organic food at the elementary schools came quickly afterward.

Lowell said the school board didn't play a roll in the decision to go organic -- it was a small group of eight parents and adults, as well as Sodexho. She said the board heard a presentation from the group and was pleased with the initiative.

The quick decision failed to account for many details, however, and miscommunication with the distributors landed only one organic entree on some lunch lines. The publicity for the item was limited, too, said Gerda Endemann, a member of the Healthy School Lunch Committee that is now advocating for healthier school food.

The price of the organic food also led to the program's downfall. The organic entree came at a heftier cost to students than the traditional fare -- almost twice as much. Instead of $2.50 for a regular entrees, organics set students back $4.50.

Lowell didn't think the organic program lasted the full school year.

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