WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown, D-OH, and Susan Collins, R-ME, and U.S. Representative Stacey Plaskett, D-V.I., has introduced the Farm to School Act to get more fresh, locally grown foods in schools across the nation. Brown’s bill would expand the farm to school program for school-aged children by making significant investments in the program.
“Ohio farmers grow some of the best produce in the country and farm to school programs help connect students with those fresh foods,” said Brown. “This legislation will increase locally grown foods in our school lunchrooms while strengthening farms and rural communities in Ohio and across the country.”
“The Farm to School Program plays an important role in providing nutritious food to students in Maine while supporting family farms in the community,” said Collins. “This bipartisan bill would ensure that schools and non-profits in Maine and across the country continue to receive funding to purchase local food for student lunches and implement innovative agriculture and wellness lessons.”
“The Farm to School Act is a blueprint for nourishing our children and invigorating our local economies. Since its inception, the program has channeled more than $52 million into projects across all states and territories, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, benefiting nearly 21 million students in 47,000 schools. This Act not only broadens access to nutritious, locally-sourced meals for millions of students but also provides a much-needed economic lifeline to our small and socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and fishermen. As our nation continues its rebuilding efforts in the wake of the pandemic, I am proud to re-introduce this bipartisan bill—alongside Senator Brown and Senator Collins— that closely aligns with our collective mission: to build a healthier, more equitable future for all,” said Rep. Plaskett.
“Farm to school activities happen 365 days a year across more than 67,369 schools, enriching communities’ connection to fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and early care and education sites. ‘National Farm to School Month’ is a well-deserved time to celebrate the successes of these efforts and to raise awareness of the opportunity and need for more,” said Ryan Betz, Policy Specialist at the National Farm to School Network. “We applaud the Senate for recognizing the significant and positive impacts that farm to school has in improving child nutrition, supporting family farmers and local economies, and building vibrant, more equitable communities. We urge the Senate to continue to invest in the well being of our nation’s kids, farmers, and communities through supportive policies in the 2023 Farm Bill, and build on ten years of success by strengthening the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program.”
The Farm to School Act would increase the program’s mandatory funding from $5 million to $15 million per year, and increase the maximum grant award to $500,000. The act would also reduce barriers to applying for Farm to School Grants by granting USDA the authority to modify or waive the current 25% non-federal matching requirement. This legislation would also help grantees improve procurement and distribution of local food, and expand the scope of the program to include pre-schools, summer food service and after-school programs.
The Farm to School Act is supported by a number of national organizations and advocacy groups, including the National Farm to School Network, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the Ohio Farmers Union.
Brown has continually advocated for legislation to ensure students and schools have access to locally grown food, including the Local School Foods Expansion Act, the Kids Eat Local Act and the Keep Kids Fed Act, and many of them have utilized the Farm Bill programs Brown has consistently fought for. He is the first Ohio senator to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in more than 50 years.
