U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith Announce Two USDA Farm to School Grants to Support Agricultural Education and Local Food Access in Minnesota Schools

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN) announced funding from the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm to School Grant program for two projects in Minnesota. The projects will expand agricultural education, support local producers, and incorporate local foods into child nutrition programs in Minnesota.

Two projects in Minnesota will each receive $100,000 in funding for agricultural education and child nutrition programs:

1. The Boys and Girls Club of Detroit Lakes: Funding will be used to purchase a "flex connect" farm system, 12 hydroponic towers used for crop growth, from Fork Farms. By purchasing the system, the Boys and Girls Club will expand educational opportunities for students, create an Entrepreneurial Program, and increase local food accessibility for students in Detroit Lakes.

2. Saint Paul Public Schools Nutrition Services: The grant will help expand its Grow Their Own program, a school gardening initiative which encourages food education through hands-on projects. The program currently supports student gardens at 28 different schools. Funding will go towards supporting more permanent staffing for student gardens, as well as expanding and diversifying educational opportunities through the initiative.

"Providing nutritious school meals is critical for ensuring our students can succeed," said Klobuchar. "This federal funding will expand students' access to locally grown, nutritious food at school and bolster food education programs."

"Science has shown that proper nutrition is directly linked to academic performance, but too many of our students are not receiving the kinds of healthy meals they need to thrive in the classroom," said Senator Smith. "This funding will expand young Minnesotans' access to healthy, delicious meals at school, and help fight food insecurity for children who rely on these meals every day. These grants will also support Minnesota's economy by bringing locally sourced produce into our cafeterias and encouraging food education in our classrooms."

"Saint Paul Public Schools is grateful to be selected as a recipient of USDA's Farm to School grant. School gardens are wonderful learning spaces that cultivate more than just plants. They nurture scientific curiosity, healthy eating habits, social skills, and allow students to learn about where their food comes from," said Saint Public School District Interim Superintendent John Thein.

The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program helps nutrition program administrators incorporate local foods into student meals and creates opportunities for students to learn about agricultural practices through hands-on experiences. It also enables more children to achieve nutrition security, which ensures consistent access to healthy, safe, affordable food.

These grants are part of a historic $14.3 million investment in USDA's Farm to School Grants program, which has supported more than 67,000 schools and 28 million students since its inception in 2013. This round of grants will fund a total of 154 projects nationwide, creating educational programs and increasing local food access for more than 1.9 million students.

This investment from USDA is part of a national push, led by the Biden Administration's National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, to end hunger and increase healthy eating by 2030.

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