More local food in schools: doubling funds and supporting farmers through grants
This Act reauthorizes and expands the Farm to School Program, aiming to increase the availability of local foods in educational institutions. It doubles the annual funding to $10 million, providing more grants for schools, colleges, and non-profits to purchase local produce and implement agricultural education. This change benefits children by offering locally sourced meals and supports local farmers and ranchers by creating new market opportunities.
Key points
Funding Doubled: Annual funding for the Farm to School Program increases from $5 million to $10 million.
Increased Grant Cap: The maximum grant amount available to recipients is raised to $500,000, with award terms up to 3 years.
Expanded Eligibility: The program now explicitly includes land-grant colleges and universities as eligible institutions.
Support for Tribal Communities: Highest priority is given to projects serving Tribal communities that incorporate products from Tribal agricultural producers.
Focus on Distribution: The program emphasizes improving local food procurement and distribution options, including funding for aggregation, processing, and transportation.
Expired
Additional Information
Print number: 118_HR_6308
Sponsor: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
Process start date: 2023-11-08