Vermont is planning to expand a program that connects schools to local farms. Since 2006, the Vermont Farm to School program has provided nearly 50 schools with funding to get more nutritious food into cafeterias, and nutrition and agriculture education into classrooms.
Officials say a total of $200,000 in state and federal funds will allow the Vermont Agriculture Agency to expand the program over the next five years.
The funding will go to schools and to support the development of regional networks and resources to evaluate the impact of the program. The Vermont Agriculture Agency says Vermont was the first state to pass legislation to make Farm to School initiatives a priority.