New Mexico Farm-to-School Bill Would Put More Local Veggies on Kids’ Plates

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Farm-to-school programs are cropping up across the country, giving kids the opportunity to have locally grown produce for lunch as well as meet real farmers and learn about food production. These programs, however beneficial, can be expensive to expand on a large scale and sometimes underfunded schools are left out.

A bill currently up for consideration in the New Mexico state legislature would appropriate 1.44 million dollars for the expansion of the statewide farm to school program. Currently 60 schools and school districts across the state have purchased New Mexico-grown produce. This number has more than quadrupled since 2012, making a strong case for funds to expand the program.

According to a brochure distributed by the New Mexico Food Policy Council, by purchasing New Mexico-grown fresh fruits and vegetables schools across the state are providing high quality produce to students; helping food service directors to meet updated Federal nutrition standards for school meals and encouraging kids to eat fresh food. The farm-to-school program also benefits the local ecomony by supporting farmers who live nearby.

As of early February, the bill had successfully passed through the House Agriculture, Water and Wildlife committee and now heads to House Appropriations committee.

Follow news about the bill here.