New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced New York’s Farm-to-School program has awarded over $1.5 million to 16 organizations serving students in Kindergarten through Grade 12. He made the announcement Tuesday at a press conference at C.R. Weeks Elementary School in Windsor.

The Rural Health Network of SCNY, Inc will receive $100,000. The project will serve 15 school districts in Broome and Tioga Counties to increase the volume and variety of New York State farm products purchased and served in school meal programs and build capacity of the Farm-to-School program.

Commissioner Ball and local elected officials highlighted Weeks Elementary’s sourcing of New York farm products by touring gardens behind the school, including a bed with Kale that food service workers harvested for an apple kale salad served Tuesday in the school’s cafeteria.  

The officials and Weeks students also took part in a special New York Taste Test of an Apple Crisp Parfait, featuring New York oats, yogurt, and apples from Russell Farms. The elementary school’s food service program is supported by Broome-Tioga BOCES, whose Farm-to-School program was awarded $100,000 through this latest round of Farm-to-School funding.

“Our goal for this grant is to work with more local farms and bring fresher products from our immediate area into the schools. We focus on fruits and vegetables. Today, we had the kale salad. Students might not otherwise be introduced to kale,” said Julie Raway, registered dietitian with Broome-Tioga BOCES.

“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.

The funding will build on a longstanding collaboration between the Rural Health Network of South-Central New York, Broome-Tioga BOCES, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County, 15 participating school districts, and local farm and food business partners to increase the volume and variety of New York State farm products purchased and served in school meal programs.