$5.2 Million in Grants Will Support Local Food in Child Nutrition Programs in 43 States, D.C., and Guam
The Office of Community Food Systems (OCFS) congratulates all of the 2018 Farm to School Grant recipients! USDA’s Farm to School Grants fund school districts, State and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers, and non-profit organizations in their efforts to increase local foods served through child nutrition programs, teach children about food and agriculture through garden and classroom education, and develop schools’ and farmers’ capacities to participate in farm to school.
For the 2018 - 2019 school year, 73 grants will serve more than 6,006 schools and 2.8 million students, nearly 66 percent of whom are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Funded projects include:
- Guam Department of Education aims to encourage students to
consume locally grown fruits and vegetables by working with schools to sustain
school garden projects, integrate agriculture and nutrition education into existing
curriculum, and implement innovative student learning activities such as taste
tests and culinary contests.
-
Mississippi Association of Cooperatives (Association)
will train farmers and cooperatives to increase their farm to school
procurement knowledge. In addition to the training opportunities, the
Association will (1) develop an edible school garden in two school districts,
(2) promote healthier food choices, and (3) conduct two farm to school reality tours in which the farmer visits the school
and the school visits the farm.
-
Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (VSDB) will
develop students’ ability to make connections between the natural world, their
community, and themselves. Their program goals are to (1) increase student
access to local foods, (2) advance educational opportunities, and (3) improve
classroom concepts through agricultural innovation. Staff will accomplish this
goal through their 3-acre education farm which includes, one acre of
production, a riparian buffer, a raised bed garden, a small
greenhouse/workspace, a sensory garden, and a youth garden business.
-
District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) will build
upon a strong partnership that already exists between DCPS and non-profit
partners to implement an innovative approach of using farm to school objectives to transform the cafeteria experience for
DCPS elementary students. Key components of the project include (1) adopting the
Good Food Purchasing Policy, (2) offering scratch-cooked recipes students are
familiar with through FRESHFARM FoodPrints classes, (3) providing coaching for
cafeteria staff and students from a Wellness in the Schools Chef, and (4) infusing
the physical environment of school cafeterias with photographs of students
harvesting and preparing the same recipes in their FoodPrints school gardens
and teaching kitchens.
For a complete list of 2018 recipients, please see the FY 2018 Farm to School List of Awardees.
Farm to school
gives schools and school districts local
control and flexibility to offer seasonally-available, regionally-produced
foods on their menu, often sourced directly from local farmers.
Farm to school
benefits everyone from students, to
teachers, parents, and producers. Connecting communities to their local farmers,
ranchers, and fishers builds stronger
ties to the community and a culture of appreciation for those who care for our
land.
Farm to school
introduces students to agricultural career paths. As America’s farmers
retire, our nation’s food supply depends on more young people entering the
field of agriculture. Farm to school inspires young people to consider careers
in agriculture and food systems.
USDA
has invested over $30 million in 437 farm to school projects since the program
began in 2013. The projects span all 50 states, as well as the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Farm to School Grant Program Announcement
OCFS received additional funding
appropriated through the FY
2018 Omnibus Bill for the Farm to School Grant Program. Over the next two
grant cycles, OCFS will release an additional $5 million in farm to school grant funds
to support farm to school activities across the nation. This means that there
will be at least $7 million in available farm to school funds in fiscal years 2019 and 2020! Additional funding will help reach more communities
seeking to incorporate local products into the school meals program, integrate
agricultural education in the classroom, and cultivate and expand school
gardens. The FY 2019 Farm to School Grant Request for Applications (RFA) will be released in fall 2018! Keep reading The Dirt for the latest updates regarding the next Farm to School Grant RFA!
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