Brownish lumps of chicken nuggets, a pile of white mush that calls itself mashed potatoes, a plastic cup of fruit swimming in syrupy water, a small square of peas that either came from a can or the freezer, and a chocolate chip cookie that is definitely not freshly baked. Is this really what we want to feed our children?

While many other countries serve their children nutrient-dense fresh fruits and vegetables, school lunches in the U.S. are often criticized for consisting of mainly processed, unhealthy foods. The U.S. School Lunch Program, which was initially designed to improve the nutrition of American children, is now putting them at a higher risk for being overweight, particularly children from lower-income families, who depend on these government-funded meals.

Although several initiatives have been created across the country with the goal of improving lower-income communities’ access to fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, the Farm-to-Table movement is still most popular among the elite, some of whom can’t imagine someone not being able to afford organic kale from the local farmer’s market. Lower-income communities are still plagued with higher levels of obesity than the general public due to the affordability of calorie-dense processed foods and a lack of access to healthier options.

It begs the question, how can a movement be considered sustainable when it exacerbates inequality and leaves behind those who need it most? For a truly sustainable food system we must foster food sovereignty: the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.

The Farm-to-School movement just might be the solution. By providing American children with locally grown fruits and vegetables and educating them about where their food actually comes from, Farm-to-School programs are certainly a step towards food sovereignty. While such initiatives have existed for decades in some parts of the country, the USDA formally established the Farm-to-School Program with the passage of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

As a part of the National School Lunch Program, which receives federal funding to provide free or reduced cost meals for students in public schools, Farm-to-School provides a way for lower-income students and communities to get involved in the Farm-to-Table movement.

However, funding for these Farm-to-School programs is limited and distributed on the basis of a competitive grant application process and lower-income communities might not be receiving the funding they so desperately need. Is Farm-to-School a step towards reducing childhood obesity rates and creating more equality within the sustainable food movement? What types of schools have Farm-to-School programs and how are they incorporated into the curriculum? How are farmers, the local economy, and the students themselves affected by these programs? Over the course of the semester, I will explore these questions and many more as I consider whether the Farm-to-School Program is truly sustainable: if it serves to increase food sovereignty for all, or only for some.