Simple but powerful tweaks to state law and funding structures could be a boon to local farms, economy and school districts according to participants at a roundtable hosted by Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, on Wednesday.
The roundtable, co-hosted by the chairs of the Assembly committees on Education and Agriculture, featured school administrators, farmers, and representatives from food banks, both from the local community and other regions of the state, among others, speaking about ways to streamline the process of getting farm-fresh food on trays in front of students.
Assemblyman Al A. Stirpe, D-Cicero, member of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, also attended.
"Giving our students the quality, local food they deserve is a top priority for me," Russell, who serves as Chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Food, Farm, and Nutrition, said. "There are common-sense changes we can make to state law and funding structures that would radically improve the food we give to our students."
A significant increase in state funding for school lunches - from about $.06 currently to $.31 per lunch - tied to incentives for buying locally produced food would stimulate the local agricultural industry, Russell said.
"This funding model would especially benefit North Country schools thanks to our vibrant agricultural sector that is engaged in this type of activity," Russell said.
Russell is also continuing to push legislation she introduced to enable schools to source food from small collectives of local farmers without requiring a time-consuming waiver from the state Commissioner of education (A.6182). The legislation would encourage schools to collaborate with local farmers.
"I will be aggressively pushing this legislation in 2016," Russell said. "I look forward to continuing to work with partners in the educational and agricultural fields, in addition to my colleagues in the state legislature, to ensure our students and farmers are given the support they need to thrive in New York State."