Wyoming will receive more than $325,000 to increase the purchase of local food for school meal programs thanks to a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service.
The Wyoming Department of Education will operate through the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program to “purchase and distribute local and regional foods and beverages for schools to serve children through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program,” a Sept. 20 news release said.
“This cooperative agreement supporting Wyoming schools is another example of how USDA is working to build a more resilient food system rooted in local and regional production,” USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt said in the release. “The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program provides an opportunity for states to strengthen ties between local farmers, ranchers, food businesses and schools, and gives students access to nutritious foods unique to the area they live in, building stronger connections across local communities.”
The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program gives organizations the flexibility to design food purchasing programs and partner with farmers and ranchers, the release said. Through the program, “historically underserved producers and processors” can sell their products.
“Strengthening relationships between local producers and schools is a long-term strategy to ensure our children always have access to nutritious foods in school, a win-win for child health and American agriculture,” Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Stacy Dean said in the release. “Through this program and many other efforts to support the school meal programs, USDA is committed to giving schools the tools they need to set children up to learn, grown and thrive.”
Chad Auer, deputy superintendent of public instruction, praised Susan Benning, Carla Banks and the nutrition team at the Wyoming Department of Education for providing “Wyoming students and families with the nutritional resources they need to be ready to learn,” the release reported.
“Providing local, Wyoming-grown agricultural products to Wyoming schools is good for everyone,” Auer said in the release. “As we all know, the best farmers and ranchers in the world are right here in Wyoming. I am proud to support this collaborative effort.”
