A New York congressman and a county executive say federal money will help schools purchase local produce.
The $100,000 investment will connect Orange County school cafeterias with Hudson Valley farmers through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “Farm to School” program. Democratic Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney and outgoing Republican County Executive Ed Diana say Orange County’s Healthy Orange Farm to School program will focus on those school districts in the county with the highest rate of free and reduced-price school lunches. The USDA awarded 71 Farm to School grants nationwide, and Orange County was one of just two projects awarded the grant in New York. The other was the New York Botanical Garden to help 12 public and charter schools in New York City. In Massachusetts, the Springfield and Somerville school districts were grant recipients.
