As the 2018-19 school year kicks into gear, 135,000 Michigan children in 57 school districts will be enjoying healthy, locally purchased food in cafeteria lunches.
Michigan Legislature Expands 10 Cents a Meal Pilot to Broader Regions of the State
Thanks to the Michigan Legislature, schools in 29 counties of Michigan have just been notified of an opportunity to tap into state funds to show the difference a dime can make in their efforts to serve Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables and dry beans to students. Michigan legislators expanded the popular 10 Cents a Meal for School Kids & Farms program from $250,000 in general funds last year to $375,000 for the upcoming school year; and added a third, six-county region in Washtenaw in southeast Michigan.
Report on 10 Cents a Meal Released to Legislature
The popular 10 Cents a Meal for School Kids & Farms incentive procurement pilot program is providing schools with up to 10 cents per meal in match funding to purchase and serve Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and legumes to an estimated 48,000 students in 16 grant-winning school districts. Lawmakers are encouraged to expand the program, as schools are serving a greater variety of fruits and vegetables and that is exactly what Michigan farmers grow.