The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will award more than $5 million in grants for 82 projects spanning 42 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands to connect school cafeterias with local farmers and ranchers through its Farm to School Program.
The program helps schools purchase more food from local farmers and ranchers in their communities, expanding access to healthy local food for school children and supporting local economies, according to the USDA.
These projects will serve more than 4,800 schools and 2.8 million students, nearly 51 percent of whom live in rural communities.
For a complete list of FY15 Farm to School grant recipients, please visit: http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/f2s/FY_2015_Grant_Award_Summaries.pdf