The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded more than $1.3 million to schools and early care providers through its Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Farm to School and Early Care Grant programs to increase purchases of Minnesota-grown and -raised foods.
“Since becoming Commissioner in 2019, the MDA has awarded more than $9 million through Farm to School grants and costshare funding,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen.
The MDA received over $2.1 million in requests and awarded $1,154,532 to 59 school districts and 11 early childhood education (ECE) centers located in 40 of Minnesota’s 87 counties. The awarded amount includes a total of $137,464 for equipment purchases to support farm to school initiatives. Recipients were awarded one of two grant types:
• Farm to School First Bite Grant: For school districts and ECE centers new to local purchasing and looking to start small.
• Farm to School Full Tray Grant: For school districts and ECE centers with some Farm to School purchasing experience that are ready to expand their efforts.
Westbrook-Walnut Grove received $5,000. The individual grant awards range in size from $2,500 to $30,000 and when combined with required matching contributions from grantees, the program’s total investment in local foods will exceed $1.9 million, providing a significant boost to Minnesota’s local food economy. In addition, the MDA awarded just over $199,000 to 311 family daycare providers through the Local Tots Cost-Share program.
Each provider received up to $647 to serve more Minnesotagrown and raised-foods as part of their meal and snack programs. This is the second year this program has been offered.
