Funding Available for SC Farm to School Programs
South Carolina Department of Agriculture
Hugh E. Weathers, Commissioner
Media Contact: Stephanie Sox, 803-734-1767, ssox@scda.sc.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 1, 2016
Funding Available for SC Farm to School Programs
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Funding is now available through the South Carolina Farm to School program, and the South Carolina Farm to Institution Program encourages schools to apply for use toward farm to school initiatives.
The South Carolina Farm to School program facilitates partnerships between farms and schools to serve locally grown and minimally processed foods in school meals. Core goals of the Farm to School program include: increasing the number of farmers who are certified to provide locally grown products into schools; providing education to food service directors, staff, and teachers on Farm to School practices; and promoting healthy eating among students through hands-on learning activities.
Participating schools must serve at least two fruits and vegetables from local sources in school cafeterias per month, promote Certified SC Grown produce, incorporate nutrition and agriculture education into classroom curriculum and maintain a school vegetable garden. Funds can be applied toward activities related to the development of farm to school programs as a strategy to promote healthy school environments.
Interested schools can view a technical assistance webinar, available on the SC Farm to School Website (http://scfarmtoinstitution.com/farm-to-school/grantees/) beginning April 6, 2016. Prospective applicants can view the request for proposals through the same link. Applications are due May 6, 2016 by 5:00pm.
About South Carolina Farm to School
The SC Farm to School Program is a joint effort of the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), the SC Department of Agriculture (SCDA), the SC Department of Education (SCDE), the SC Department of Social Services (SCDSS) and Clemson University. For more information about the South Carolina Farm to School program, please visit http://scfarmtoinstitution.com/
For more information, contact:
Amy London, Grants Coordinator
alondon@scda.sc.gov
(803)734-7209
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