USDA distributes $1.5 billion to strengthen school meal program
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Dec. 17 that his administration is providing up to $1.5 billion to states and school districts to help school meal programs deal with continuing pandemic supply chain disruptions.
The funding is available through USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation, according to a news release.
USDA will give $1 billion for schools to purchase food for school meals and $300 million for states to purchase foods for schools, according to the release.
An additional $200 million will fund cooperative agreements to purchase local foods for schools "with a focus on buying from historically underserved producers," the release said.
“USDA’s school meal programs have a wide-reaching impact on the health and well-being of our nation’s children,” Vilsack said in the release. "The food and funds USDA is distributing will help ensure schools have the resources they need to continue to serve our nation’s schoolchildren quality food they can depend on, all while building a stronger, fairer and more competitive food system.”
The School Nutrition Association praised the action. The group's recent national survey of school nutrition directors "found virtually every program is struggling with shortages of menu items, supplies and packaging, as well as rising costs," according to a news release.
“School meal programs are paying much higher prices in the scramble to place additional orders and find new vendors when their deliveries are shorted, canceled or delayed,” SNA President-Elect Lori Adkins said in the release. “SNA is extremely grateful for USDA’s ongoing support and regulatory waivers for school nutrition professionals as they confront supply chain challenges. These new funds will help school meal programs manage higher costs, while allowing students to continue enjoying nutritious, American-grown foods in school meals.”
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