Read the full Civil Eats article.
As the USDA proposes changing school menus to allow more fries and pizza and fewer vegetables and fruits, the state is working to get more locally grown produce into its schools.
“This is no secret, but [farm to school initiatives] do so much more than support our farmers and increase access to healthy New York-grown food for kids,” said AFT’s New York policy manager Samantha Levy, the lead author of the report. “If we’re talking about creating the next generation of food- and agriculturally literate children who have a connection to farms and don’t just think romaine lettuce comes from a grocery store, these are the types of programs that we need to be putting a lot of focus and attention and investment into.”