Federal grant for Rapp farm-to-school program
More than $133,000 in federal farm-to-school grants will be awarded to six Virginia school divisions, Rappahannock County Public Schools among them.
The funds will support efforts to incorporate locally grown and raised foods into school nutrition programs and connect students to agriculture through hands-on learning and career exploration. The projects will include teams comprising students, educators and community partners to ensure long-term sustainability.
RCPS will receive $25,000 to purchase food-preparation equipment and salad bars, to expand the use of vegetables and fruits grown by students and local producers in school nutrition programs. Grant funds also will support the purchase of a mobile kitchen cart in Rappahannock for “Harvest of the Month” tastings, Farmer Friday demonstrations, after school cooking clubs and classroom lessons.
School divisions were invited in June to apply for grants of up to $25,000 after the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Virginia’s request to direct up to $200,000 in federal school nutrition funds to support local efforts to implement or expand farm-to-school programs.
Besides Rappahannock, other school divisions receiving the farm-to-school grants are Bristol, Buchanan, Cumberland, Richmond, and Wythe.
Meanwhile, RCPS spokesperson Holly Jenkins says students here celebrated Virginia Farm to School Week through Oct. 10. October is National Farm to School Month, which is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the importance of regional Farm to School programs in improving child nutrition, supporting local economies, and educating students about the origins of food.
RCPS served local sausage, beef patties, ground beef, sweet potatoes, apples, nectarines, lettuce, tomatoes, and more throughout the week!
“Virginia Farm to School Week is one of our favorite weeks of the year in the school nutrition department,” said Amanda Butler, who serves as the RCPS School Nutrition Director. “We are proud to serve local products from farmers in our community to students and staff. RCPS is committed to providing all students access to fresh, healthy food this week and throughout the entire school year.”
Local participating farms included Hayfield Farm (beef patties), Rider's Backfield Beef (ground beef ), Papa Weaver's Pork (sausage), Survivor Fam (sweet potatoes), Thornton River Orchard (apples and nectarines), and Local Food Hub/4P Foods (zucchini, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, and more).