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Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County
Launches New Farm to School Program
Published: November 29, 2023
at 09:45 a.m.
By: Press Release from Cornell Cooperative Extension
of Lewis County
Cornell Cooperative Extension Lewis County Launches
Farm to School Program
Initiatives include an increased reimbursement for
schools serving NYS-produced foods
Lowville, NY - Cornell
Cooperative Extension Lewis County proudly announces the launch of its Farm
to School program, which aims to bring healthy, locally-produced
foods to schools and support rural economic development, among other
benefits. The program aligns with New York State’s Farm-to-School Program
already implemented in 40% of the state’s school districts¹.
CCE Lewis County
will use the Farm to School program to collaborate with the community’s
schools, farmers, producers, and families to build awareness of local
foods. This will be done through various initiatives, including classroom
projects, Harvest of the Month, and the NYS 30% Initiative. The NYS 30%
Initiative increases the reimbursement schools receive for lunches from 5.9
cents per meal to 25 cents per meal for any district that ensures their
school lunches are made up of at least 30% eligible New York produced and
processed products².
The new Farm to
School program is a natural extension of the work CCE Lewis County is
already doing with its Ag in the Classroom program. Ag in the Classroom
provides free lesson plans and all necessary lesson materials required to
incorporate various agricultural concepts into curriculum for Pre K – 5th grade classrooms within
Lewis County.
For more
information on this and other Cornell Cooperative Extension programs,
please call David at 315-376-5270, email drn44@cornell.edu or
see our website at ccelewis.org.
¹ https://agriculture.ny.gov/farming/farm-school
² https://agriculture.ny.gov/30-percent-initiative
Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and
educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individual
with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.
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