JOHN GARAMEND! gh Distaicr, CALIFORNIA November 10,2015, [Nutrition Services Sacramento City Unified School District 3051 Redding Avenue Sacramento, CA 95820 Dear Diana, | was disappointed to read reports thatthe Sacramento City Unified School District recently purchased canned peaches of Chinese origin ffom Gold Star Foods. Ido not understand why ‘such a purchase would have been made when the heart ofthe domestic peach industry is so close by. Indeed, there are four canned peach processing facilities within a two hour drive of Sacramento. Canned peaches from China can jeopardize the health and safety of our children due to contamination and will accelerate climate change and threaten American jobs, Moreover, this purchase potentially runs contrary ta the Buy American provisions of the National School Lunch Act ‘To begin wit, it is no secre that Chinese agriculture is compromised: around a fifth of China's crop growing farmland is polluted with heavy metals that are especially toxic to children. Unlike the domestic peach industry in my district and throughout California, the industry in Chin does not take nearly the same care forthe environment, for product quality, and for worker safety. Purchasing peaches from China could result in an inferior, and potentially toxic, lunch program for local children. Tam also concerned about the economic impacts in my district which is home to over 40% of California's peach growers. According to the California Canning Peach Association. the farm gate value of cling peaches producod in my district this year exceeded $75 million—a significant ‘economic output supporting good:paying jabs that grow a quality American-made product. Locel schools should be natural customers of a focal homegrown industry, rather than obtaining an interior and possibly toxie product from a foreign source. I believe that where possible, food products served in schools should be locally sourced and support aur local economy. The Buy ‘American provisions of the National School Lunch Act are thee fora reason: to ensure thatJOHN GaRAMENDI & aimee eon Unirep Staves Concress ‘American schools help create jobs here in America by purchasing American agricultural products, In the Sacramento region especially, this should not be a difficult challenge. The Sacramento City Unified Schoo! District has previously participated in farm to school programs, and reported tha it enjoys lower student meal costs as a result of local sourcing, In fact, in the 2013-2014 school year, over 60% of the school district's food purchases were locally sourced. Sacramento is known as the Farm-to-Fork capital beeause of ts abundance of local agriculture, including cling peaches for canning, With a large Ioeal source of s0 close by, I do not understand why Chinese outsoureing was necessary or legal in this ease. Lastly, as a member ofthe Safe Climate Caueus, l am deeply concemed about the climate {impacts involved in purchasing foreign goods and shipping them across the world when a local product is available go close to home. Not only does Chinese agriculture not abide by the same ‘energy efficiency standards as California growers, bt their produce must be shipped overseas half world away, which takes substantial energy resources and contributes to global warming. Local agriculture is not only grown with much more environmental friendliness, but it requires {usta tip of few miles to reach Sacramento City schools tis my hope that in the future, you will consider al ofthese factors when making a procurement {ecision for peaches and other agricultural products for your schoo! district. 1 would be happy to talk at your convenience to discuss how we can work together to support local agriculture.