USDA cuts impact Minnesota schools, child care centers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is ending two pandemic-era programs that provided funding for schools and food banks to purchase food from local farmers and producers, the Associated Press reported. The programs provided more than $1 billion to its recipients nationally, with about $660 million of that going to schools and childcare centers to buy food through the Local Foods for Schools program. A separate program provided funding to food banks.
The state Department of Agriculture was informed last month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that a previous agreement made in January will be terminated. None of the $13.2 million has been awarded so the number of farmers or schools that may be impacted is not available, according to state officials.
The state's Local Food for School Program previously was awarded $3.45 million, with 114 awards given to both public and private K-12 school districts throughout the state in 2023. Those schools purchased unprocessed or minimally processed foods from 487 producers.
At the state level, the MDA received approximately $2.43 million for its Farm to School program for 2024-2025. Gov. Tim Walz's budget proposal for 2026-2027 calls for $2.59 million to be allocated for Farm to School.
Still, the state will not see the federal support it expected, state officials said.
'At a time when more Minnesotans than ever can't afford the food they need and farmers are on the frontline of a trade war, it's beyond frustrating to see these critical farming and nutrition programs being canceled. We will continue to work within our current programs to ensure farmers have markets for their products and Minnesotans are fed,' Minnesota Department of Agriculture officials said in a statement.
Some of the east metro schools or districts that received Local Food for Schools Program funds in 2023 were Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Schools, $173,750; Roseville Public Schools, $149,444; St. Paul Public Schools, $100,000; and White Bear Lake, $85,000.
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