Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
Award Date
2024
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Health and Consumer Sciences
First Advisor
Graham E. Bastian
Abstract
Objective: Quantify South Dakota (SD)’s capacity to procure locally-sourced fruit and vegetables (FVs) for K-12 school meals.
Methods: Secondary analysis of 2017 SD agricultural census and school meal data. Yields were converted to edible cups of FVs using school meal guidelines provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Student enrollment and meal redemptions were used to estimate the number of FV cups needed.
Results: Estimated SD FV production met minimum total K-12 cup requirements, except for total fruit (66%) and dark green vegetables (80%). Legumes supplied 77% of the total cups of vegetables produced in 2017, whereas dark green vegetables were only 2%.
Conclusions & Implications: The FV procurement in SD is adequate to meet some, but not all, school meal requirements. Further research involving both nutrition and horticulture professionals is needed to determine the feasibility of sustainably providing and producing FVs for Farm to School and other local food needs.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
School children -- Food -- South Dakota.
School children -- Nutrition -- South Dakota.
Local foods -- South Dakota.
Fruit in human nutrition.
Vegetables in human nutrition.
School children -- Food -- Government policy -- United States.
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Bienias, Bridgette, "Estimating South Dakota’s Capacity to Meet K-12 School Meal Fruit and Vegetable Requirements With State-Grown Produce" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 977.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd2/977
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Rights Statement
