Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, has announced this year’s state budget includes funding for a pilot program that will provide North Country school districts with funding so they can provide fresh, local food grown and raised by New York State farmers.
The pilot program will provide increased reimbursements for North Country schools that purchase food from New York farmers.
“This innovative program greatly benefits both farmers and students alike,” Assemblywoman Russell, chair of the Assembly Task Force on Food, Farm and Nutrition Policy, said. “Farmers will receive revenue from local schools, while students get healthy and locally sourced food. It’s a win-win.”
The budget allocates $300,000 to the Adirondack North Country Association to oversee the farm to school program specifically targeting schools in the North Country to help purchase food from regional farmers.
"We are honored to be selected to manage this innovative program,” ANCA Executive Director Kate Fish said. "This initiative will provide more stable year-round markets for regional farms and exponentially increase the number of schools participating in farm to school programs.”
"ANCA has a long history of supporting our region's farmers,” according to ANCA's Board President James Sonneborn. "We are excited about the possibilities this initiative presents and look forward to working with Assemblywoman Russell to bring this idea to fruition."
The Assemblywoman’s farm to school pilot program is part of her larger “Drive for 25” initiative, which is also supported by the New York School Nutrition Association. That initiative would provide increased state funding of up to 25 cents more per lunch for schools that meet set goals for expanded usage of local food products.
That initiative would modify the state’s reimbursement formula for school lunches, by increasing reimbursement rates by 5 to 25 cents a meal from the current 6 cents.
The rate would be dependent on the percentage of locally grown and produced products that school districts purchase each year.
While some school districts across the state have been able to offer local food to their students, the reimbursement rate has not changed in 40 years, meaning cash-strapped districts may not be able to more fully utilize regional farms. The rate would be dependent on the percentage of locally grown and produced products that school districts purchase each year.
This pilot program will provide a nutritional and economic benefit to the community and serve as a template for schools across New York State, Assemblywoman Russell noted.
“This measure affirms our commitment to the state’s farmers and the well-being of our students,” according to Assemblywoman Russell. “I will continue to fight for policies that provide healthy food to schools and help stimulate the local agricultural community. I am optimistic the success of this pilot program in the North Country in this budget year will grow additional funding for the program in future budgets.”
“This measure affirms our commitment to the state’s farmers and the well-being of our students,” according to Assemblywoman Russell. “I will continue to fight for policies that provide healthy food to schools and help stimulate the local agricultural community. I am optimistic the success of this pilot program in the North Country in this budget year will grow additional funding for the program in future budgets.”