October is Farm to School Month
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. October is National Farm to School month, when schools and farmers alike can celebrate the fresh foods grown by local farmers and served to local students.
Jenny Lester Moffitt is Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and says a recent grant by USDA will expand the program even more …
MOFFITT … “We're excited that we were able to announce an additional investment of $700 million to support local foods for schools and local foods for childcare settings. This adds to investments that we made a couple years ago and really grows the programs and grows the connectivity of farmers in schools.”
Moffitt says local foods in local schools is really a win-win … for both the students and the farmers and ranchers …
MOFFITT … “When kids can see farmers and see careers in agriculture, whether that is farming, whether that is research, whether that is, you know, equipment dealers and all of the different ways in which they can be involved in agriculture, it starts from a love and appreciation of the agricultural system, which is what Farm to School programs do. They foster that connection and that connectivity and really the culture around food that I think we all very much appreciate, but everyone gets an opportunity to really participate in.”
Moffitt says to learn more about the Farm to School program, just go to their website … www.Farmtoschool.org … www.usda.gov/markets.
