November 19, 2015

USDA Announces Nearly $5 Million in Farm to School Program Grants

The United States Department of Agriculture recently announced $4.8 million in grants for 74 projects spanning 39 states that support the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) efforts to connect child nutrition programs with local farmers and ranchers through its Farm to School Program.

“Farm to school programs work—for schools, for producers, and for communities,” said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. “By serving nutritious and locally grown foods, engaging students in hands-on lessons, and involving parents and community members, these programs provide children with a holistic experience that sets them up for a lifetime of healthy eating. With early results from our Farm to School Census indicating schools across the nation invested nearly $600 million in local products, farm to school also provides a significant and reliable market for local farmers and ranchers.”

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) took the opportunity today in its Planting Seeds blog to share information on California’s nine grant recipients who together will receive a total of $672,795.    

The USDA’s press release listed all grant recipients including, one recipient from Arizona and two from Colorado.