Washington DC (RI) — The USDA plans to invest up to $18 million in a program that connects schools with local farmers, which could include the purchase of more locally-sourced food, building school gardens, and food safety training for producers. The announcement comes six months after the Trump administration cancelled the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program. Chelsea Christ co-chairs the Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition.
Applications for the program are due December 5th.
Christ says this funding doesn’t make up for one billion dollars lost when the USDA cancelled two other programs earlier this year, Local Food for Schools and Local Food Purchase Assistance. That money was slated to help schools, childcare centers, and food banks purchase local food.
The announcement was made alongside the release of the Make America Healthy Again report.
(Rachel Cramer, Iowa Public Radio)
