November 21, 2013
USDA to provide grants to help schools purchase local foods
The US Department of Agriculture''s (USDA) will award grants for 71 projects that support efforts to connect school cafeterias with local farmers and ranchers through its Farm to School program.
"In rural and urban communities across the country, Farm to School programs teach students where food comes from, while providing healthy foods that are grown locally on farms and ranches across the nation," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "These programs also create new market opportunities for local farmers and ranchers interested in partnering with nearby school districts- and by helping to create an even more diverse and thriving agriculture sector, Farm to School efforts hold potential to create new jobs in rural areas."
Selected projects will serve more than 13,000 schools and 2.8 million students, nearly 45% of whom live in rural communities. Projects are diverse, ranging from developing a district-wide farm to school program with community partners that focus on creating youth jobs and promoting healthy eating and physical education, to working with local farmers and a newly established food hub to boost production to meet the needs of local schools. States awarded grants from the USDA include Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Iowa and Washington.
USDA Farm to School grants help schools respond to the growing demand for locally sourced foods and increase market opportunities for producers and food businesses, including food processors, manufacturers, and distributors. Grants will also be used to support agriculture and nutrition education efforts such as school gardens, field trips to local farms, and cooking classes.
USDA''s Farm to School Program is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which authorized USDA to provide grants and technical assistance to help schools gain better access to local foods.