The U. S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday 65 projects would receive funding through farm to school grants designed to increase the amount of local foods served in schools. Grants range from $14,500 to $100,000, awarding a total of $5 million to schools for farm to school planning, implementation, or training. Projects selected are in urban, suburban and rural areas in 42 states and Puerto Rico, and are estimated to serve more than 5,500 schools and two million students. Cindy Long, Deputy Administrator for Child Nutrition Programs at USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, says the grants “foster healthy eating habits among America’s school-age children.” According to the 2015 USDA Farm to School Census, schools with strong farm to school programs report higher school meal participation, reduced food waste, and increased willingness of the students to try new foods, such as fruits and vegetables.

More information on individual projects can be found at www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/grant-awards