By Jamie Martin
The USDA's Food and Nutrition Service today announced a $10 million grant allocation through its Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative. This funding, distributed through partners like Full Plates Full Potential and the Illinois Public Health Institute, aims to transform the school meals landscape by supporting regional food systems and enhancing nutritional offerings.
These grants are part of a broader $100 million commitment under the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, designed to empower schools to serve nutritious meals that support student health and academic performance.
To date, this initiative has facilitated 264 grants targeting small and rural school districts and 43 grants under the School Food System Transformation Challenge.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the importance of these grants in strengthening school food systems, enabling schools to source diverse, healthy products from local and regional producers, thereby building a more resilient and equitable food system.
In the Northeast and Midwest, nearly two dozen grantees will benefit this year, focusing on integrating innovative practices in school cafeterias.
For example, Full Plates Full Potential has allocated $7.4 million to seven organizations in Maine to help schools overcome barriers to purchasing local foods. Similarly, the Illinois Public Health Institute has awarded $2.7 million to 16 organizations to enhance the school food system around Lake Michigan.
These initiatives not only aim to improve the nutritional quality of school meals but also modernize operations and foster sustainable partnerships within regional food economies.
The USDA continues to support these efforts, aligning with the goals of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, to enhance food and nutrition security nationwide.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National