Latest News From Schools

New Jersey is one of 35 states that will participate in the USDA’s new Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program to provide more food availability to children and families in need during the summer months.

Stores under the Heritage Grocer Group banner will award a $3,000 scholarship to a student who demonstrates academic excellence, financial need, leadership attributes and a commitment to serving their local community.

Three Meadows Farm's new Paradise Salad debuted at the ShopRite of Chester, N.J. The salad was grown by students with autism who are part of the Somerset Hills Learning Institute’s hydroponics career training program.

Wholesum will curate an art exhibit during the event’s opening reception from high school students where attendees will help determine prize winners.

A new School Nutrition Association survey report says economic, procurement and regulatory issues are obstacles facing school meal administrators as pandemic-era assistance comes to an end.

Brighter Bites, a nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, is expanding its offerings to six Phoenix-area schools.

In collaboration with Fresh Alliance procurement services, orders placed by Cool School Cafe loyalty program members can earn bonus points that can be redeemed to help enhance child nutrition meal programs.

The FARMS program has introduced careers in ag and environmental sciences to tens of thousands of high school youth, most with no previous access to these opportunities.

Among other requirements, scholarships are awarded to applicants who meet the application criteria of having a parent or grandparent who is a corporate member in good standing with the SEPC.

In addition to supporting the May 28 event featuring over 200 student finalists, SugarBee Apple will also present the Scripps Educator of the Year award.

San Antonio, Texas-based NatureSweet has partnered with a nonprofit, Fundación EDUCA México A.C., to help create herb, fruit, and vegetable gardens at schools near six NatureSweet facilities throughout Mexico.

The farmer-owned citrus cooperative is supporting the inaugural April 8 Encore All-Star Games, featuring basketball talent from the Los Angeles region.

The educational toolkit supplements the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and transforms “eating your fruits and veggies” into an exciting adventure.

Encouraging Discovery and Growth in Education, also known as EDGE, is a career program focused on developing and connecting students to produce industry career opportunities in the Lone Star State.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s new initiatives lean into science-based nutrition updates to school lunches that tackle added sugar and sodium and support domestic and locally grown sourcing options.

New digital marketing avenues supported the growth of funds raised and audience reached, according to the organization.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced an adjustment in school meal reimbursements to help schools continue to serve children healthy and nutritious meals. 

The digital adaptation of the Jump with Jill musical nutrition program worked for 48 Pennsylvania and Texas schools.

Introducing fresh produce to young school children benefits growers, retailers, children and their families — and programs that do this work have struggled to continue this mission while schooling was remote-based.

​​​​​​​Teaching schoolchildren family and consumer sciences is critical, and a mini-podcast series launching May 21 will bring that point home.

The New York Department of Agriculture has two new initiatives to strengthen its Farm-to-School program, which provides new markets for New York farmers and improves access to locally grown and produced food in schools.

At the Brighter Bites booth at the Nov. 9-13 virtual West Coast Produce Expo, a short video featured a mom and her two children.

In New Jersey, 168 schools are participating in the 2020-21 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program — the most schools in the state to join since the program began in 2008.

The Washington Apple Education Foundation replaced its annual scholarship luncheon with a scholarship celebration film.

Table grape growers in California awarded nine California college students with scholarships.

A culinary instructor who created an “escape room” to complement her course in food safety and sanitation has been recognized by the Idaho Potato Commission.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is giving $12.1 million in Farm to School grants — the most awarded since the annual program began in 2013.

Domex Superfresh Growers has named the recipients of its five annual scholarships.

Farm Credit donated nearly $255,000 to create an endowment fund for agribusiness students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Without lunch at schools and salad bars, many children are eating less fresh produce at home during this time of COVID-19 online schooling.

A group of New York City teens grew enough food in an indoor hydroponic farm to feed more than 2,000 students at lunch, with the help of a Whole Kids Foundation partnership with Teens for Food Justice.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that $1.5 million will go to 16 Farm-to-School projects, increasing access to local produce in schools. 

A Power Your Lunchbox back-to-school healthy eating campaign garnered almost 200 million impressions across social media, public relations efforts, digital support and influencer outreach.

New York school districts can apply for $1.5 million for Farm-to-School programs.

U.S. Foods Inc., Los Angeles,  has been awarded a maximum $90.3 million contract for full-line food distribution on Navy ships in the San Diego area.

The U.S. Apple Association has launched its 2019-20 Apples4Ed initiative.

Pacific Coast Fruit Co. hosted its first Kids in the Kitchen event at the Boy and Girls Club of South Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash.

Philip’s Academy Charter School in Newark received the Best in New Jersey Farm-to-School Award for the school’s rooftop garden. 

The Produce for Kids program’s Power Your Lunchbox campaign returns August 5-Sept. 22 with nine produce brand partners, new initiatives and a new registered dietitian.

With the help of a hydroponic farm at a Brooklyn middle school, Teens for Food Justice has launched a new Fresh Food Box program that will provide produce to local food-scare communities.

In language that supporters hope is included in the next Child Nutrition Act reauthorization, new legislation aims to make it easier for school foodservice directors to buy local food for student meals.

Ocean Township Intermediate School to honor the school as the grand prize recipient of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture's Jets Play 60 “Eat Right, Move More” program.

Capital Area Food Bank and The Coastal Cos. Foundation are partnering with Brighter Bites to launch school-based programs giving families increased exposure to fresh produce in Prince George’s County, Md.

Kids’ nutrition show Jump With Jill will be rocking and rolling around the Midwest again this spring thanks to a Produce for Kids campaign hosted by Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer Meijer.

Last week the U.S. Apple Association presented its 2018 Apples4Ed grant of $10,000 to St. Martin North Elementary in Biloxi, Miss.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture memo last year reminded school nutrition directors about the importance of the long-standing “Buy American” provision for school meals.

This year’s Tour de Fresh cycling event, presented by The California Giant Foundation, will benefit school districts in four states through the Salad Bars to Schools Program.

The New Jersey’s Department of Agriculture’s Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week, will regocnize a grower farm-to-school efforts.

Bakersfield, Calif.-based Grimmway Farms is supporting and partnering with a Kern County project called KC’s Farm, an educational garden going in at the Kern County Fairgrounds.

The California Giant Foundation is preparing for the fifth run of Tour de Fresh, extended to four days this year, and has lined up several pro cyclers to ride along as coaches.