Area schools get more than $55,000 in grants through Farm to School program

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture recently awarded $4.22 million in grants to 114 schools through its Farm to School program, including some in southwest Minnesota.

The money will be used to purchase Minnesota-grown and -raised foods for use in school meals.

The awards were made possible by Minnesota’s Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture. The USDA Local Foods Schools Program and the MDA’s Farm to School grant programs seek to increase the amount of healthy, local foods served in school meals while expanding market opportunities for small businesses and socially disadvantaged farmers.

Recipient school districts were awarded one of two grants. The Farm to School First Bite Mini-Grant is for school districts new to local purchasing and looking to start small. The Farm to School Full Tray Grant is for school districts with some Farm to School procurement experience that are looking to take on larger projects. Applicants were also able to apply for additional funding through the MDA’s Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation program to purchase equipment.

In southwest Minnesota, Adrian Public Schools received a First Bite Award of $5,000 and $14,024.45 for equipment, and Mountain Lake Christian School received a First Bite Award of $5,000 and an additional $1,709.00 for equipment.

Heron-Lake Okabena Public Schools received a Full Tray Award of $30,000.