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

Local education agencies with local food for schools agreement monies will purchase and store minimally and unprocessed foods from local producers including those socially disadvantaged for their students in order to strengthen the frequency of procurements and connections between the agricultural community and schools. This grant will provide support for small producers, and provide a variety of regional foods to students to encourage nutrition education. IT is expected to see both urban and rural schools participate in the application process. The expected outcome is to promote and foster local food procurement for school meal trays and proper health and safety habits; engage schools with the local agricultural community; and create an opportunity for socially disadvantaged farmers to promote and grow their business. 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. The intended beneficiaries of the local food for schools grant will be the students, and small local farmers and producers that are underrepresented. Through this relationship, a stronger partnership between the local producers and local education agencies will benefit the community as a whole. The recipient plans to subaward funds to local education agencies.