From the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced the six Florida school districts awarded Farm to School grants to increase the amount of locally grown products served to children. As part of the Farm to School initiative, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recognizes school districts that purchase at least 10 percent of the food they serve from local Florida farms.
“By connecting Florida schools with local farmers, we are able to teach students where their food comes from while providing them with the nutrition they need for academic success,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “These school districts have gone above and beyond to further grow Florida’s Farm to School program.”
The grant is awarded to school districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program and implement a successful Farm to School initiative that shows an increase in the number of schools within the district participating in the Farm to School program, or an increase in the amount of locally grown products purchased by existing schools in the program.
The department awarded grants to the following schools districts:
• $75,000 Grant Award Winners: Orange, Osceola and Sarasota counties
• $50,000 Grant Award Winners: Alachua and Marion counties
• $25,000 Grant Award Winner: Hendry County
For more information on the Farm to School program, visit the department’s Farm to School program webpage.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.