The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has released the Farm to School Competitive Grants RFP which uses foods produced by local farmers in meals served in cafeterias of K-12 schools.
The program will award funding to select schools for farm to school infrastructure. The farm to school infrastructure will improve the school’s ability to procure and/or process NEW YORK-GROWN SPECIALTY CROPS which will not only improve school nutrition, but also increase children’s exposure to and consumption of NYS fruit and vegetables which will ultimately increase awareness of and demand for NYS specialty crops.
Priority will be given to projects directed toward employing of regional farm to school coordinators and training of school food service staff to meet the objective of increasing the volume and variety of specialty crops served to students in school meals programs.