Purchase local food targeting purchases from small businesses and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, for distribution to schools

Kentucky department of agriculture will use local food for schools funds to build on the success of more than 10 years of farm to school activities in the commonwealth, expanding the number of schools and producers parti cipating in farm to school and building sustainable pathways for other producers and schools to replicate. The kentucky department of agriculture will administer $3.2 million in local food for schools program funds through its existing state-wide, united states department of agriculture-supported farm to school network. Program funds will be provided directly to national school lunch program schools to purchase and deliver local foods from small and socially disadvantaged producers. The final desired outcome of the program will be the development of a handbook with standardized procurement and sales processes to help make local procurement easier for interested schools and producers. Quarterly performance reports will be submitted to capture the number of producers, small businesses and socially disadvantaged farmers and producers, dollar value of purchases, and type of food purchased. Annual reports will provide percentages of new marketing opportunities established by purchasing from local and regional farmers and producers, socially disadvantaged farmers and producers, and small businesses. Producers will benefit as they will open a consistent sales outlet with opportunities for long-term relationships since meal counts and menus change only incrementally year to year. School children will benefit from high-quality, fresh ingredients with longer shelf life, higher nutritional density, less loss and damage, and a smaller environmental impact from packaging and long-distance transportation. The recipient plans to subaward funds to school districts.