WHEREAS, April 23, 2015, is the statewide rollout of California Thursdays; and

WHEREAS, California Thursdays is a collaboration between the Center for Ecoliteracy, participating school districts, and allied organizations to serve healthy, freshly prepared school meals made from California-grown food; and

WHEREAS, Forty-two innovative school districts that collectively serve over 250 million meals a year, including large and small rural, urban, and suburban school districts across California, have joined the California Thursdays network; and

WHEREAS, California agriculture leads the nation, its 80,500 farms and ranches received $42.6 billion for their output in 2013, and its agricultural abundance comprises more that 400 commodities, including nearly one-half of United States-grown fruits, nuts, and vegetables; and

WHEREAS, California Thursdays will increase the procurement of California-grown food, and every dollar spent in the agriculture sector adds $2.56 to the states economy, according to a study from California State University, Fresno; and

WHEREAS, Children in California face chronic diet-related public health challenges, including food insecurity and childhood obesity, and the California Endowment states that improvements to the school food environment are resulting in healthier behaviors among students; and

WHEREAS, Growing evidence demonstrates an association between nutrition and academic performance, and California children will benefit from understanding where their food comes from and how it reaches the table; and

WHEREAS, Understanding where food comes from and how it gets to the table encourages ecological knowledge and aligns with state and national education standards; and

WHEREAS, Research and local success stories indicate that improving food quality increases meal program participation and revenue; and

WHEREAS, California Thursdays is a bite-sized implementation program to improve school food systems in order to improve student health and academic achievement, local and state economies, and the environment, creating a triple win; and

WHEREAS, California Thursdays has received grants from the Department of Food and Agriculture, the United States Department of Agriculture Farm to School Program, and the California Endowment, along with major ongoing support from TomKat Charitable Trust; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly proclaims April 23, 2015, as California Thursday in the State of California; commends the Center for Ecoliteracy and participating school districts for advancing student health and academic achievement, investing in California agriculture and Californias economy, and benefiting the states environment; and urges all California schools to participate in California Thursdays; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, April 23, 2015, is the statewide rollout of California Thursdays; and

WHEREAS, California Thursdays is a collaboration between the Center for Ecoliteracy, participating school districts, and allied organizations to serve healthy, freshly prepared school meals made from California-grown food; and

WHEREAS, Forty-two innovative school districts that collectively serve over 250 million meals a year, including large and small rural, urban, and suburban school districts across California, have joined the California Thursdays network; and

WHEREAS, California agriculture leads the nation, its 80,500 farms and ranches received $42.6 billion for their output in 2013, and its agricultural abundance comprises more that 400 commodities, including nearly one-half of United States-grown fruits, nuts, and vegetables; and

WHEREAS, California Thursdays will increase the procurement of California-grown food, and every dollar spent in the agriculture sector adds $2.56 to the states economy, according to a study from California State University, Fresno; and

WHEREAS, Children in California face chronic diet-related public health challenges, including food insecurity and childhood obesity, and the California Endowment states that improvements to the school food environment are resulting in healthier behaviors among students; and

WHEREAS, Growing evidence demonstrates an association between nutrition and academic performance, and California children will benefit from understanding where their food comes from and how it reaches the table; and

WHEREAS, Understanding where food comes from and how it gets to the table encourages ecological knowledge and aligns with state and national education standards; and

WHEREAS, Research and local success stories indicate that improving food quality increases meal program participation and revenue; and

WHEREAS, California Thursdays is a bite-sized implementation program to improve school food systems in order to improve student health and academic achievement, local and state economies, and the environment, creating a triple win; and

WHEREAS, California Thursdays has received grants from the Department of Food and Agriculture, the United States Department of Agriculture Farm to School Program, and the California Endowment, along with major ongoing support from TomKat Charitable Trust; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly proclaims April 23, 2015, as California Thursday in the State of California; commends the Center for Ecoliteracy and participating school districts for advancing student health and academic achievement, investing in California agriculture and Californias economy, and benefiting the states environment; and urges all California schools to participate in California Thursdays; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

Date of Hearing: April 13, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES

Richard Gordon, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:HR 15

Author:(Eggman) – As Introduced Ver:April 6, 2015

SUBJECT: California Thursday.

SUMMARY: Proclaims April 23, 2015, as California Thursday in the State of California. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. "California Thursday" is a collaboration between the Center for Ecoliteracy, participating school districts, and allied organizations to serve healthy, freshly prepared school meals made from California-grown food.

2. Forty-two innovative school districts across California, including small rural, urban, and suburban school districts; collectively serve over 250 million meals each year, have joined the "California Thursdays" network.

3. California agriculture leads the nation, its 80,500 farms and ranches received $42.6 billion for their output in 2013, and its agricultural abundance comprises more than 400 commodities, including nearly one-half of United States-grown fruit, nuts, and vegetables.

4. Growing evidence demonstrates an association between nutrition and academic performance, and California children will benefit from understanding where their food comes from and how it reaches the table.

5. "California Thursdays" is a bite-sized implementation program to improve school food systems in order to improve student health and academic achievement, local and state economies, and the environment, creating a "triple win."

FISCAL EFFECT: None

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Center for Ecoliteracy

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916) 319-2800