The Connecticut Department of Agriculture and the Granby Public Schools have been awarded grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) as part of an effort to bring nutritious local foods into schools and create new economic opportunities for farmers. As part of the USDA nationwide Farm to School Program, the $5.2 million in grants will impact 6,000 schools and 2.8 million students.
Granby Public Schools received a $30,000 planning grant to strengthen current wellness practices and plan for new student learning experiences by engaging its Wellness Committee to: Explore community gardens and the role they can play in school settings from planning to planting. Develop comprehensive wellness and science curricula inclusive of robust learning expectations for nutrition, health, and wellness. Explore and grow partnerships with community farms to enrich academic experiences and investigate potential partnerships.
“The grant provides the school district with the resources to strategically promote and support innovative health and wellness practices in and out of the schools while utilizing the town’s natural resources,” said Alan Addley, superintendent of Granby Public Schools.
Farm to School Grants may be used for training, supporting operations, planning, purchasing equipment, developing school gardens, cultivating partnerships and implementing farm to school programs.
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers 15 nutrition assistance programs comprise America’s nutrition safety net.