U.S. Department of Agriculture signed a cooperative agreement with the Georgia Department of Education through the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program.
The agreement, for more than $7.1 million, will allow the state to purchase nutritious, local food for school meal programs, according to March 13 news release.
"This cooperative agreement supporting Georgia 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 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 Georgia Department of Education will build relationships and business opportunities between the state's farmers, distributors and school food service authorities, the release reported. This will allow the school to purchase fresh and nutritious foods from local underserved farmers and producers.
"This program will help contribute to students’ achievements and community development by providing a more equitable local food system," the release reported.
The agreement was announced by Moffitt; Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Stacy Dean; U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff; and U.S. House Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr., the release reported.
"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," 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, grow and thrive."
"We want to send our kids to school knowing they’re going to be well fed with good, fresh food," Ossoff said in the news release. "We also want Georgia farmers to have the opportunity to sell fresh, locally grown Georgia produce to our schools. This new program is a win-win for Georgia students and farmers."
