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Gillibrand Announces Farm-to-School Initiative for Poughkeepsie Schools

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has announced a federal grant of $100,000 that will go to the Poughkeepsie City School District to establish a farm-to-school initiative. More from WAMC's Dave Lucas.

Gillibrand says the initiative's primary goals are to incorporate regionally produced foods into school meals, and to enhance foods systems education.  At each stage in the project, there will be collaboration between Hudson Valley farmers, value-added processors, distributors, school administrative staff, families, students and community stakeholders. 

The funding is being allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Gillibrand worked hard to include the farm-to-school initiative as part of the Healthy, Hunger Free Schools Act that passed in 2010.

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.