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Today, on behalf of the White House Rural Council, six federal agencies joined together to announce the selection of 27 communities in 22 states that will participate in Local Foods, Local Places, a federal initiative that helps communities increase economic opportunities for local farmers and related businesses, create vibrant places and promote childhood wellness by improving access to healthy local food.

The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 allows the Food and Drug Administration to better protect the public health by strengthening the food system from Farm to Table.  This document addresses common questions regarding the impact of the Act on school gardens and other similar small producers commonly used as sources for local food.

A fact sheet developed by the Office of Community Food Systems addressing common food safety issues raised when working with school gardens or other locally sourced food.

Throughout the U.S, farm to school initiatives are taking root and thriving at local, regional, and statewide levels. According to the USDA Farm to School Census, during the 2014-2015 school year, over 5,200 school districts comprised of more than 42,000 schools were buying local food and teaching children about agriculture. Many state agencies are at the forefront of this work, leading their state’s farm to school planning and goal setting. Indeed, state agencies such as Departments of Education, Departments of Agriculture, and Departments of Health can play unique roles in establishing and supporting these community food systems efforts. Attached, are a few effective strategies USDA recommends state agencies implement to support farm to school initiatives in their states.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the USDA Rural Child Poverty Nutrition Center at the University of Kentucky awarded $1.3 million in grants to help reduce child food insecurity in 17 rural communities. The funding, ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, will help these rural communities implement creative strategies to improve access to federal nutrition assistance for families and children. Secretary Vilsack made the announcement during a panel discussion on the current state of food and nutrition in America hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center.