WASHINGTON, March 22, 2023 – Right this moment, U.S. Division of Agriculture introduced a number of actions to broaden help for and entry to the college meal packages, together with awarding $50 million in grants that can enhance collaboration between faculties, meals producers and suppliers, and different companions to develop nutritious, appetizing faculty meals for teenagers. The division additionally introduced $10 million in grants for faculties to broaden diet schooling, in addition to a proposed regulatory change to present extra faculties the choice to offer wholesome faculty meals to all college students for gratis.
These forward-thinking, revolutionary actions have been all highlighted by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack at an occasion at Maplewood Elementary in Greeley, Colo. the place he spoke with faculty and district leaders about how these USDA actions will profit their communities.
“The Biden-Harris Administration believes {that a} more healthy future for our nation begins with our kids,” mentioned Vilsack. “Persevering with to make faculty meals more healthy and obtainable to extra college students are a few of the finest methods we will help our kids thrive early in life.”
As a part of the USDA’s Wholesome Meals Incentives Initiative, Vilsack introduced that the division is awarding $50 million to the next organizations to handle the College Meals System Transformation Problem Sub-Grants:
These grants will foster innovation within the faculty meals market to get a greater variety of wholesome, interesting meals into {the marketplace} and onto youngsters’ lunch trays. Colleges and different eligible organizations can apply for the problem sub-grants later this 12 months and are inspired to verify the USDA’s Wholesome Meals Incentives web site for updates.
“USDA is taking a holistic method to supporting faculty meal packages, which incorporates strengthening the meals provide chain that helps them,” mentioned Stacy Dean, deputy beneath secretary for Meals, Diet, and Shopper Companies. “We’re hopeful that these grants will speed up and broaden innovation within the faculty meals market, in order that faculties – and in the end our kids – have higher entry to more healthy meals merchandise.”
Additionally right now, USDA opened purposes for as much as $10 million in Fiscal 12 months 2023 Staff Diet Grants, which help diet schooling for school-aged kids. The grants will lengthen diet schooling efforts past the cafeteria, incorporating it into all elements of the college day and even enrichment actions exterior of college. The sources additionally help one other element of the Wholesome Meals Incentives Initiative by serving to faculty districts introduce extra nutritious menu choices, and finally qualify for a Recognition Award.
Secretary Vilsack additionally introduced that the division is proposing a change that might give extra faculties the choice to offer wholesome faculty meals to all college students for gratis. The rule would broaden the variety of faculties eligible to choose into the Neighborhood Eligibility Provision, also referred to as CEP, which may lead to extra kids receiving tasty, nutritious faculty meals.
“Many colleges and even some complete states have efficiently supplied free meals to all their college students,” mentioned Vilsack. “We applaud their management in nourishing kids and hope this proposed change will make it attainable for extra faculties and states to comply with swimsuit.”
Whereas the proposed rule doesn’t enhance federal funds for college meals, President Biden’s 2024 price range requests an extra $15 billion over 10 years to help faculties taking part in CEP and attain 9 million extra kids. Vilsack added, “Collectively, these actions are considered one of many efforts the Biden-Harris Administration and USDA are taking to make sure the federal authorities, states, and native faculties are working collectively to help youngster well being.”
FNS encourages all events to touch upon the CEP proposed rule throughout the 45-day remark interval that begins tomorrow.
Right this moment’s bulletins are a part of USDA’s ongoing efforts to help faculties and strengthen faculty meals to enhance kids’s well being. Additionally they construct on commitments made within the Biden-Harris Administration’s Nationwide Technique on Starvation, Diet, and Well being:
The growth of CEP advances a pathway for wholesome faculty meals to extra college students for gratis.
The College Meals System Transformation Problem Grants unite the private and non-private sector in increasing more healthy meals choices within the Okay-12 faculty meals market.
The Staff Diet Grants assist faculties broaden diet schooling to college students and introduce more healthy meals choices into their meals.
USDA touches the lives of all People every day in so many constructive methods. Within the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is reworking America’s meals system with a larger deal with extra resilient native and regional meals manufacturing, fairer markets for all producers, making certain entry to secure, wholesome and nutritious meals in all communities, constructing new markets and streams of revenue for farmers and producers utilizing climate-smart meals and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean-energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to fairness throughout the division by eradicating systemic limitations and constructing a workforce extra consultant of America. To study extra, go to www.usda.gov.
#
USDA is an equal alternative supplier, employer, and lender.