Mississippi Farm to School Program
Supporting local economies and improved nutrition in school cafeterias.
The three year grant will allow the continuation of the Farm to School Program, encouraging the serving of locally grown produce in schools and supporting local and state economies.
Mississippi food crops grown in the summer will be processed, frozen and stored and consumed in schools in the fall, winter and spring. USDA provides funding for the purchase of fresh produce; however, federal funds are no longer allowed to be used for any processing or storage for frozen items.
Mississippi farmers plant crops based on school demands and the Mississippi Department of Education and Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce coordinate shipments to contracted distributors and deliveries to schools.