The U.S. Agriculture Department has awarded $70 million in grants to encourage schools to serve wholesome, locally grown foods, a news release said.
“The expansion of Farm to School is more important than ever for our kids," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. "When schools and local producers work together, children benefit from higher-quality foods on their plates and program operators have stable sources for the products they need.”
The USDA announced that 123 programs around the nation will receive Farm to School grants totaling more than $10 million. Additionally, for the first time the department will provide non-competitive funds totaling $60 million to states so they can strengthen and sustain Farm to School initiatives over the following four years. Both initiatives will encourage more children countrywide to eat wholesome, homegrown foods, the department said.
Agricluture Secretary Tom Vilsack
| usda
Through child nutrition initiatives, Farm to School increases the proportion of locally produced foods offered while simultaneously teaching kids about the production and harvesting of their food. States, tribal countries, schools and community organizations are among the organizations that can take part in the program.
“States and school districts with strong Farm to School programs have been more resilient in the face of recent supply chain disruptions, compared to operators lacking relationships with local producers," said Stacy Dean, deputy undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. "The Farm to School program deserves to be at the forefront of long-term solutions that operators can lean on to ensure nutritious, local products are always within reach.”
