Schools spend $386 million on local food as White House announces new local, regional initiative
June 09, 2014 | 06:37 PM
The latest Agriculture Department Farm to School Census shows that school districts around the country purchased more than $386 million worth of food from local farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and food processors and manufacturers during the 2011-2012 school year, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today at a White House Rural Council event.
Vilsack also said that USDA, Transportation Department and Environmental Protection Agency officials will work with regional authorities on comprehensive strategies to help local food systems.
Anupama Joshi, executive director and co-founder of the National Farm to School Network, noted that the numbers released today “are a testament to the growth of the farm-to-school movement from a handful of programs in the 1990s to over 40,000 schools participating in the 2011-2012 school year.”
▪ USDA Food and Nutrition Service — Farm to School Census
▪ Local Foods, Local Places — Federal Assistance for Sustainable Communities
▪ National Farm to School Network
Vilsack also said that USDA, Transportation Department and Environmental Protection Agency officials will work with regional authorities on comprehensive strategies to help local food systems.
Anupama Joshi, executive director and co-founder of the National Farm to School Network, noted that the numbers released today “are a testament to the growth of the farm-to-school movement from a handful of programs in the 1990s to over 40,000 schools participating in the 2011-2012 school year.”
▪ USDA Food and Nutrition Service — Farm to School Census
▪ Local Foods, Local Places — Federal Assistance for Sustainable Communities
▪ National Farm to School Network
