The Farm to School Act of 2023, also known as Bill 118 s 3129, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress with the aim of promoting and supporting farm to school programs across the country. The bill seeks to increase access to local foods in schools, improve nutrition education for students, and support local farmers and food producers.
One of the key provisions of the Farm to School Act is the establishment of a grant program to help schools and local educational agencies implement farm to school programs. These grants would be used to support activities such as purchasing local foods, developing school gardens, and providing nutrition education to students.
Additionally, the bill aims to increase the availability of local foods in school meal programs by requiring schools to give preference to locally sourced foods when purchasing food for their meal programs. This would not only support local farmers and food producers, but also help to improve the nutritional quality of school meals.
The Farm to School Act also includes provisions to support farm to school training and technical assistance for school food service providers, farmers, and other stakeholders. This would help to ensure that farm to school programs are effectively implemented and sustainable in the long term.
Overall, the Farm to School Act of 2023 is a comprehensive piece of legislation that aims to promote healthy eating habits among students, support local farmers and food producers, and strengthen local food systems. If passed, this bill has the potential to have a positive impact on the health and well-being of students across the country.