The United States' Department of Agriculture's farm-to-school program is having positive effects on the nation's cafeterias. A press release shared by the USDA last Tuesday boasted of some the improvements that have been made as a result of this initiative.
According to the report, Farm to school efforts reduce plate waste and bolster local agricultural communities; all while giving students access to healthier and more nutritious school meals.
A survey of 42,000 institutions with farm to school programs revealed these figures:
- Reduced plate waste (17 percent);
- Improved acceptance of the healthier school meals (28 percent);
- Increased participation in school meals programs (17 percent);
- Lower school meal program costs (21 percent); and
- Increased support from parents and community members for the healthier school meals (39 percent).
"Farm to school is one of many tactics and resources that USDA makes available to help schools successfully serve healthier meals to kids. Farm to school partnerships have a proven track record of encouraging kids to try, like and eat more healthy foods and creating new market opportunities for the farmers that grow them," said USDA secretary Tom Vilsack in the release. "Congress should act quickly to reauthorize the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act to build on the success of farm to school and the healthier school meals and continue our momentum towards a healthier next generation of Americans."
This news comes right as congress is debating whether or not to renew the Hunger-Free kids act implemented in 2012.
Speaking at the center for American Progress last month, Vilsack had this to say.
"The bottom line is, as a country, if we want to be successful economically, if we want to reduce health care costs and we want to ensure our national security, then we also have to see child nutrition in the way we see so many issues involving national security and economic security and health care security, It's a critically important part."
