The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service announced an agreement with the state of New Jersey for nearly $5 million to boost the state’s purchase of nutritious, locally produced goods for school meal programs.
According to the Dec. 5 USDA news release, the agreement will forge relationships between schools and local farms.
“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,” USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt said in the release.
Moffitt also noted the deal supporting Garden State schools demonstrates the USDA’s efforts to form a food system that is more resilient with a foundation in local and regional production, the release reported.
Moreover, Stacy Dean, deputy undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, said developing those relationships is a good long-term effort to make sure students have access to healthy meals in the schools, according to 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, grow and thrive,” she said in the news release.
