Congressman Gibson Applauds NY Farm-to-School Program

Press Release

Congressman Chris Gibson (NY-19) applauded the announcement that New York is one of eight states selected for participation in the USDA Pilot Project for Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits and Vegetables, which supports the purchase of locally-sourced produce by school lunch programs.

Congressman Gibson, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, advocated for inclusion of the farm-to-school initiative in the federal Farm Bill.

"I look forward to working with farmers and educators in the Hudson Valley and Catskills to establish new farm-to-school partnerships in the coming year through this exciting program," said Congressman Gibson. "Our region is home to hundreds of innovative farmers reaching out to new markets for wholesome, local food. It makes sense to encourage school districts to keep their food-buying dollars closer to home, providing healthful lunch options that help students connect with local agriculture."

The New York State Office of General Services will administer the procurement project, which allows school districts to use a portion of their USDA Foods program funding to purchase unprocessed fruits and vegetables directly.

In addition to New York, the USDA named the following pilot project participants in a December 8 announcement: California, Connecticut, Michigan, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

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