A new USDA report shows that USDA's Farm to School Grant Program has helped 12,300 schools improve nutritious meal options made with local ingredients for 6.9 million students, while expanding market opportunities for family farmers and ranchers in their communities.
The 44-page report, The Farm to School Program: FY 2013-15 Summary of Grant Awards, highlights some of the farm to school grant program's successes. USDA has awarded 221 grants in 49 States, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands over the past three years.
Fifty percent of funded projects included expanding healthy menu options offered in the cafeteria; 46% included training for food service staff about menu planning, meal preparation, and cooking with local and regional foods; and 65% included nutrition education activities.