Kaptur Heralds $100,000 USDA Farm to School Food Award for Cuyahoga Health Board

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) heralded news that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition service has awarded the Cuyahoga County District Board of Health $100,000 through its Farm to School Grant initiative. This award will support local efforts to improve access to healthy local food, build connections for local food in the classroom, support the region’s food system economy, and establish a Harvest of the Month initiative for the region.

“This is great news for local families and local food producers alike,” said Rep. Kaptur. “Northern Ohio is one of the most fertile areas in the world. Our region produces a vast quantity and variety of food, but a large portion of it ends up leaving Northern Ohio. At the same time, the overwhelming majority of the food we consume here is shipped in from somewhere else. Bringing more local food into our classrooms and connecting our communities with the local farmers and producers will help bring more balance and efficiency to our local food system. It will also help kids and families eat and live healthier, happier lives. Please allow me to congratulate Cuyahoga County District Board of Health for earning this distinguished award, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for seizing the opportunity to support local food in Northern Ohio!”

“With the dramatic increase in childhood obesity rates and chronic disease, it is our responsibility as a public health entity to explore innovate ways to turn that trend around,” said Cuyahoga County Health Commissioner Terry Allan. “It is our intention under the 2016 USDA Farm to School award to build a momentum that creates healthier school food environments, strengthens the regional food system’s economy, and enhances connections to the classroom."

“We are very pleased that the Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) has received a Fiscal Year 2016 USDA Farm to School grant. This grant opens up exciting opportunities for the CCBH to build upon existing partnerships and create new connections to increase consumption of healthy, locally grown foods in the Cuyahoga County schools. It will also benefit the local farm economy and engage students in learning about healthy foods from the ground up,” said Tim English, Midwest Regional Administrator, USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

“Farm to school programs work—for schools, for producers, and for communities,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “By serving nutritious local foods, engaging students in hands-on lessons, and involving parents and community members, these programs provide children with a holistic experience that sets them up for a lifetime of healthy eating. With early results from our Farm to School Census indicating a nearly $600 million annual investment in local products by schools nationwide, farm to school also provides a significant and reliable market for local farmers and ranchers.”

According to USDA, Farm to School Grants fund school districts, state and local agencies, tribal nations, agricultural producers, and non-profit organizations in their efforts to increase local foods served through child nutrition programs, teach children about food and agriculture through garden and classroom education, and develop schools’ and farmers’ capacities to participate in farm to school. Awards ranging from $20,000 to $100,000 are distributed in four different grant categories: Planning, Implementation, Support Service, and Training.

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