Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett, Congresswoman Alma Adams and Congressman Jeff Fortenberry Introduce Legislation to Expand the Farm to School Grant Program

Press Release

Yesterday, Reps. Stacey E. Plaskett, Alma Adams and Jeff Fortenberry introduced the H.R. 1768 - the Farm to School Act of 2021. The bill expands participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm to School Grant Program to preschools, after-school programs, and summer food service sites, and increases annual mandatory funding from $5 to $15 million. Congresswoman Plaskett released the following statement:

"H.R.1768 - is a bill that will transform the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act in order to reauthorize the farm to school program, and for other purposes. Millions of students are eating healthier and engaged in food and agriculture education because of the Farm to School Program. It is a commonsense program that benefits children and their families while providing economic opportunities to our farmers," said Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, a senior member of the House Committee on Agriculture. "The increased demand for Farm to School programming tells us that more people are beginning to understand the connection between local foods and healthy young minds. I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation in support of our nation's schools and local farmers who help improve classroom diets and local economies. Through the Farm to School Grant Program, participating schools, nonprofit organizations, and local, state and tribal governments can help schools offer locally grown, fresh food to students. The bill expands markets for farmers, fishers, ranchers and food entrepreneurs and includes provisions targeting increased participation from beginning veteran and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers."

"The Farm to School Grant Program supports healthy students and strengthens our local food systems," said Congresswoman Alma Adams, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture. "The Farm to School Act of 2021 expands participation in this critical program and increases its funding, which is more important than ever as our students, schools and farmers face difficult challenges due to the global pandemic. Teachers, parents, and farmers all know that healthy students are successful students, so I am proud to support the introduction of this important legislation."

Since 2010, Congress has provided $5 million annually for this competitive grant program that increases the use of, and improves access to, local foods in schools, while promoting food education for our nation's children. Since 2013, USDA has received more than 1,900 applications requesting over $141 million, however, only 437 awards were granted from the $30 million available ($5 million per year). The Farm to School Act increases annual mandatory funding for Farm to School to $15 million to meet the current need and increases the maximum individual grant award to $250,000.

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