Increase Farm Products in Schools!

The spotlight has been shed on local food and school nutrition but where do the two connect? Today in Massachusetts, school foodservice departments are allowed to spend $25,000 per year on local farm products without having to meet the strict bid requirements that are established by the government. This means that food service directors, even if they want to, may have a difficult time making primarily local purchases because of the low prices that they are able to get from their regular vendors. Foodservice directors and farms are constantly working together to make farm fresh products available to their school districts and students but this $25,000 limit does not make it very easy. A new bill was introduced into the house recently suggesting an increase in this amount from $25,000 to $50,000. This increase would make a significant difference in what can be purchased from local farms in Massachusetts.
Visit
http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Content.aspx?id=7986
for more information on Farm to School and School Nutrition nationwide. Your support and dedication as a farm-based educator can make a significant difference in how we feed our children now!