Drive for 25 Farm to School Grant

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Drive for 25 Farm to School Grant

The Drive for 25 Farm to School Grant works with schools, communities, and farmers to build healthy Farm to School Programs with strong local food procurement in cafeterias. ANCA is administering the first-year pilot project in Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties. Demonstrated success during this first year will be used to continue developing Farm to School programs in the North Country and beyond.

The Drive for 25 Farm to School grant is in a first year pilot phase to establish how this type of program would work as a broader initiative in the state. The 2016-17 program enables school districts in Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties to purchase New York State grown and processed food items to serve in k-12 public school meals.

2016-17 Drive for 25 Farm to School Grant Summary

Map of Participating Schools and Interested Farms

Program Report and Impact for March thru December 2016

Program Statistics as of December 2016:

- Number of school districts participating in the program…………..………..16

- Number of students getting local food in school………………….………...Over 12,000

- Number of local farmers selling products directly to schools…….………..15

- Dollars spent on local foods………………………………………....………..$58,000

- Estimated local economic impact so far……………………………………..Nearly $210,000

- Pounds of local food purchased by schools………………………………...Over 40,000

- Number of different local food products served to students……………….43

- Percentage of low-income students with access to local food...………….57%