WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) joined by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced legislation to renew an important nutrition program that supports both school-aged children and local producers. The bipartisan Farm to School Act will build on the successes of the Farm to School Program, which was authorized in 2010.

The Farm to School Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, supports initiatives that deliver fresh, local foods to schools nationwide. Grants from the program help schools across the country implement farm to school activities. The popular program is significantly oversubscribed; since 2013, USDA has received nearly 2,000 applications requesting over $141 million. Less than a quarter of grant applications receive funding each year. 

“As schools return to in-person learning, it’s important to provide more nutritious meal options for students,” said Senator Tillis. “It’s even better when the food comes from a local farm, supporting a healthy diet for our kids and supporting the agriculture industry in North Carolina and across the country. I am proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make this a reality because this commonsense legislation is a win-win for everyone.”

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