$14.3M Boost for local foods in US schools

Jul 16, 2024

USDA's record investment aims to enhance meal quality in schools

By Farms.com

The USDA has announced a groundbreaking investment of $14.3 million in the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants, marking the largest allocation to date aimed at improving school meal quality and supporting local agriculture.

This funding will assist 154 projects in 43 states plus territories, impacting approximately 1.9 million students by providing them access to fresh, locally sourced foods.

This initiative not only aims to improve the nutritional intake of students but also supports local farmers, making schools a pivotal market for local agriculture.

The grants are an integral part of the Biden-Harris Administration's initiative to end hunger and enhance health through better nutrition by 2030.

Secretary Vilsack emphasized the dual benefits of the program, highlighting its role in combating food and nutrition insecurity among children while supporting local economies.

The program facilitates educational opportunities for students, including hands-on activities like gardening, which enrich their understanding of food systems and encourage healthy eating habits.

The new USDA regulations also support the initiative by allowing schools more flexibility to source locally grown, unprocessed foods, thus fostering an environment where children learn to appreciate the importance of nutrition from a young age.

Through these comprehensive efforts, the USDA continues to demonstrate its commitment to transforming school food environments, enhancing children’s health, and supporting American agriculture.

Video: Alberta Honey: A Day at Molenkamp Honey Farms

When was the last time you read the label on your honey?

We spent a day at Molenkamp Honey Farms with Michael Molenkamp, who has been keeping bees for 17 seasons and runs three to four thousand hives. In mid-September, he was finishing treatments and getting his bees ready for winter, and he walked us through how Alberta honey gets made.

Alberta has just 150 commercial beekeepers running 300,000 colonies, and together they produce 40% of Canada’s honey. Long summer days and golden canola fields give Alberta honey a light flavour that’s hard to match anywhere else.

Molenkamp calls Alberta beekeepers some of the most resilient farmers he knows. There’s plenty of Alberta honey to go around, but a lot on our shelves isn’t from here, so his ask is simple. Give the label a second look and choose honey made by Alberta beekeepers, or buy straight from a beekeeper near you.