ST. PAUL, MN - Today, Lt. Governor Tina Smith, Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson, and local legislators visited Glen Lake Elementary School in Minnetonka to celebrate /governor/assets/farm_to_school_month.pdf_tcm1055-91664.pdfMinnesota Farm to School Month. Broad statewide participation in the program is helping ensure all students have access to locally grown, nutritious fruits, vegetables, and meats. The economic benefit for Minnesota farmers also is significant, increasing farm incomes an average of five percent.

 

"Minnesota's Farm to School program provides thousands of schoolchildren with delicious, healthy, more nutritious meals, so they have the fuel they need to learn," said Lt. Governor Tina Smith. "It also strengthens Minnesota farm communities by creating markets and raising incomes for Minnesota's food producers."

 

The Farm to School movement has grown significantly in recent years. In 2006, only a handful of schools were involved. Today, approximately 1,350 Minnesota schools are participating. To help schools get involved, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) distributes grants to help schools purchase, store and serve more locally grown products to support both student health and the agricultural economy.

 

"Farm to School is all about partnerships," said Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson. "I know it's clichee; to say, but this is truly a win-win situation. Schools and students' health win. Farmers and the agricultural economy win. And the state wins by keeping our dollars here, in our hometowns."

 

This year, a public-private partnership allowed the Hopkins School District to purchase $118,121 of equipment, including standing mixers, immersion blenders, a combi-oven, and a braising pan. The state's investment of $50,000 was matched by $51,000 from the district. The remaining $17,000 was provided by the Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, a steadfast partner in Farm to School funding.

 

In the first three years of the program, the MDA has awarded approximately $1 million in grant funding for 51 projects around the state. Proposals for the 2016 Farm to School Grant Program are due November 4, 2015. Up to $500,000 will be available during this grant round. Learn how schools qualify and apply on the MDA website.