O26 Local Farmers and Food Procurement in Mississippi Delta Schools: Fertile Ground

School food service administrators in the Mississippi Delta are procuring fruits and vegetables (FV) grown mainly outside of the agricultural region. Opportunities for local farmers to increase profits and provide fresh FV to children attending Mississippi Delta schools may be prolific.Objectives of this study were to determine and compare FV procurement amounts (weight and cost) in 2 Mississippi Delta school districts, 1 participating in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) for 2 consecutive years.Procurement data from 2 Mississippi Delta school districts, academic years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, were obtained and compiled. Only foods categorized as FV were included.Amounts of procured FV were calculated as weight in pounds and cost in dollars for each school district and for each academic year.In the FFVP district, 18 and 16 different fruits were purchased in respective years with apples, oranges, mixed fruit, and either pears or juice representing half of expenditures and by weight. For vegetables 20 and 19 different types were purchased in respective years with potatoes, greens and either corn or tomatoes representing half of expenditures and potatoes, tomatoes, and either greens or legumes representing half by weight. In the non-FFVP district, 12 different fruits were purchased in both years with apples and juice representing half of expenditures and juice alone accounting for 50% by weight. For vegetables 18 and 17 different types were purchased in respective years with potatoes, tomatoes and either corn or juice representing half of expenditures and by weight. Changes in percentage amounts were small except for fruits (increase) for the FFVP school district.These school districts spend substantial amounts on non-locally sourced produce, much of which could be grown in the deep fertile soil of the Mississippi Delta.