On March 7, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) terminated the $12.2 million Northeast Local Food for Schools grant — a program that would have supported public schools across the state in sourcing fresh, local ingredients for school meals next year.
Last year, the grant provided a total of $3.5 million to Massachusetts public schools for school meals.
Jacqueline Morgan, Belmont’s director of food services, recalled the moment she heard the news.
“I was actually sitting Sunday morning beside the head of our Massachusetts Elementary and Secondary Education director for nutrition services,” she said. “He broke the news to us, and we were stunned.”
Belmont received $24,000 from the grant for the 2023-2024 school year, and Morgan expected the district to receive almost $45,000 next year.
The grant supplemented other federal and state funds that cover the cost for school meals.
According to Morgan, during the 2023-2024 school year, the grant paid for approximately 5% of Belmont Schools’ food service budget.
The Benefits
The grant allowed Belmont to work closely with local vendors, primarily Worcester Regional Food Hub, to receive fresh produce every week.
Shon Rainford, the director of Worcester Regional Food Hub, said the company’s farm-to-school model means schools receive fresh produce within four to five days of placing their orders.
“It’s just about impossible to get any fresher than ordering from us,” he said.
“That equates to better quality, better taste, [and] more nutrient-dense [foods],” Rainford added.
Buying from local farms may also be more environmentally beneficial.
“If the food is moving 50 miles or less, rather than 3,000 miles, there’s a definite impact there,” said Rainford.
Locally sourced food is also less expensive, Morgan added, because it lasts longer and doesn’t require a middleman.
In addition to sourcing produce, Morgan uses the Northeast Local Food for Schools funding to get fresh fish into Belmont Schools.
“The students are impressive — the willingness they [have] to try new food, eat healthy, and eat farm fresh food,” she said, adding that she has noticed a shift in Belmont Public Schools, with more students opting for school meals than ever before during her career.
She recalled students raving about the kale chips, and eagerly loading up their trays with bean salad, zucchini, tangerine chicken, and fresh fish.
Moving Forward Together
Rainford said although family farms will definitely be impacted by cuts in federal funding, he is committed to working with schools to continue supporting these local operations.
“I’m doubling down on my commitment to our local farmers, and I’m hoping that schools who have the means will continue to support them,” he said.
Morgan said she will also continue to do her best to source produce from local farms.
“It’s going to definitely impact our overall budget,” she said.
One way that Morgan said she will adjust her operations is by sourcing more seasonal produce.
She added that she is also remaining hopeful that the decision to cut funding for school meals will be reversed.
“It’s been one of the most exciting times in school nutrition,” Morgan said. “And we’re really forever optimistic and hopeful that these funds will be replaced … that Massachusetts will get its $12.2 million back for next year.”
Rainford said it’s also an especially important time for people to support local farms and other businesses, in light of the funding cuts.
“The more people can make that little extra effort to buy local — it’s really going to help,” he said.
