Local sourcing: an Alabama district put 1.2 million servings of state-grown food on trays
Elmore County Public Schools in Alabama bought more than 1.2 million servings of Alabama-grown products directly from farmers last fiscal year, from hydroponic lettuce and collard greens to sweet potatoes, shrimp, grits and pecans, according to Child Nutrition Director Cacyce Davis. The district recently won a $500,000 USDA Farm to School Grant to expand its capacity to process and preserve local products, and it led Alabama's Farm to School Incentive Program in participation in 2024-25. USDA and state agriculture officials visited on Oct. 19 for a Farm to School Month lunch.
Why it matters for directors: Direct relationships with nearby farms can scale well beyond a one-day promotion, and processing grants help stretch seasonal produce across the year. Check whether your state runs a farm-to-school incentive program you are not yet using.
Original source: Elmore-Autauga News ↗