As millions of children are heading back to the classroom, school lunches across the country are getting a makeover
The USDA is rolling out a new initiative to get local produce into the lunch line
National correspondent Molly Martinez digs in from outside the USDA
The program is called, “Harvest to Hallways.” The mission is to shorten the distance between farm and lunch plate
Among its priorities? $25 million in farm to school grants, $30 million for lunch improvement research, and a reduction in ultra-processed options and refined sugars
They’re also announcing massive investments into school cafeteria infrastructure “The additional $70 million that we are announcing today to upgrade school cafeterias cold storage stoves and other equipment. $70 million for millions of children.”
She was joined at podium by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. who has championed healthy eating as the solution to many woes
“For millions of kids, school breakfast and lunch, the most important meals they eat each day. And for many of them are the only meals.”
According to the School Nutrition Association, roughly 30 million children rely on school lunch in the U.S. About 21 million of those are enrolled in free and reduced lunch programs
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