North Country CCEs receives grant through the Farm-to-School program to bring in locally sourced food

NORTH COUNTRY N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The  Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin, St. Lawrence and Essex Counties has each been awarded a grant as part of funding to connect schools across New York State with local farmers through the Farm-to-School program.

• $100,000 to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin County;
• $98,058 to Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County; and
• $80,890 to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County.

The State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball announced the funding is part of a $1.5 million grant that will be distributed to 16 organizations throughout the state.

The Farm-to-School program works to connect schools with local farmers to increase the use of locally grown food on school menus and improve student health, while at the same time increasing economic benefits to New York’s farmers.

The funding awarded to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin County will help four school districts implement and improve their Farm-to-School programs.

The funding awarded to Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County will expand the program’s frozen product line by increasing freezer storage capacity and including locally sourced beef and pork in area schools.

The funding awarded to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County will support schools in Essex County by providing agricultural education to students and helping with procurement of local farm products and farmer outreach.

“ In New York State, we’re lucky to have some of the highest quality agricultural producers in the world right at our fingertips. New York’s Farm-to-School Program incorporates fresh, locally grown foods into school menus while increasing students’ understanding of where – and who – their meals come from ,” said Commissioner Ball. “ Today’s awarded projects are great examples of how we are helping to connect the dots between our growers and the communities they serve, strengthen our local food system, and provide a boost to our farmers statewide .”

Commissioner Ball also says the funding will help the organizations build capacity across the program to ensure long-term sustainability and impact.

Other organizations to receive funding as part of this grant include:

Capital Region

• Comfort Food of Washington County Inc
• North Colonie Central School District

Syracuse City School District

• Syracuse City School District

Finger Lakes

• Attica Central School District

Mid-Hudson

• Sullivan Catskills Regional Food Hub Inc
• Poughkeepsie Farm Project

Mohawk Valley

• Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schoharie and Otsego Counties
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County

Southern Tier

• Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES
• Rural Health Network of SCNY, Inc

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