By Blake Jackson
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) is awarding six school districts grants to help them increase their capacity to grow and store fresh, local produce for their cafeterias. This initiative is part of the Farm to School program, which aims to connect schools with local farmers and producers, providing students with healthier, more nutritious meals while supporting local agriculture.
"This project is the next step for growth in our Farm to School Program," said Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell. "It gives us the ability to provide education and procurement training opportunities to our young future farmers as well as school food service professionals, all to provide a brighter future for Kentucky agriculture."
The grants, funded by the USDA's Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program, will be used for a variety of purposes, including:
- Purchasing hydroponic systems to grow fresh produce year-round, even in limited space.
- Building on-campus gardens to provide students with hands-on learning experiences.
- Investing in refrigerators and coolers to safely store locally grown food.
The recipient schools are:
- Barren County ($46,206)
- Crittenden County ($10,298)
- Graves County ($49,588)
- Marion County ($50,000)
- Taylor County ($22,075)
- Union County ($50,000)
These grants will not only benefit students by providing them with access to fresh, local food, but they will also create new opportunities for Kentucky farmers and producers. By supporting Farm to School programs, we can help build a healthier, more sustainable food system for everyone.
Photo Credit: farm-to-school
Categories: Kentucky, Education