New York has awarded over $850,000 in farm-to-school grants to boost local procurement efforts.
The funds will be distributed to 10 programs in the state that are working to increase the amount of locally grown food on school menus, improve student health and strengthen local economies.
"Our Farm-to-School program is a key component of my administration's efforts to get more fresh, local New York products on tables across the state," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. "By connecting schools and farmers, we are providing critical economic opportunities for farmers and producers while also giving students and underserved populations access to locally sourced, fresh, healthy, and nutritious food.”
Farm-to-school efforts throughout the country have heated up in recent years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has invested millions of dollars to boost local economies and help K-12 operators tackle supply chain issues. It also awarded over $10 million in grant funding last summer to support 123 farm-to-school projects throughout the country.