2024 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program Awardees

We are excited to share the Massachusetts based recipients of the FY 24 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program Awardees (USDA).

The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant program (USDA) awards competitive Farm to School grants that support planning, developing, and implementing farm to school programs. USDA’s Farm to School grants are an important way to help state, regional, and local organizations as they initiate, expand, and institutionalize farm to school efforts.

From the press release: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is awarding a record-breaking $14.3 million in Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants to 154 projects in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. These investments will help 1.9 million children eat more tasty, nutritious foods in school, while supporting farmers and producers in their local and regional communities. Read the full release.

Massachusetts-Based Awardees

Boston Area Gleaners’ Farm to School project, Expanding Access to Local Fresh Produce for Public Schools in Massachusetts, will increase the availability of fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables for PK-12 students in eastern Massachusetts.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South will utilize funds to execute a bold expansion of its Freight Farms urban farming initiatives, increasing food system education and access to locally-grown foods within its after school programs and throughout the broader community.

Codman Academy’s Farm to School, Lettuce Grow Codman project, aims to improve its student nutrition, provide agricultural education opportunities, and help students establish a positive relationship with food, and enhance classroom education through hands-on learning.

Growing Places, with support from Massachusetts Farm to School, will support Fitchburg and Gardner school districts as their school teams develop and implement a holistic food literacy pathway focused on growing, farm-to-fork, the environment, and entrepreneurship.

The School Garden Support Organization Network (along with program partners) will synthesize school garden data creating a comprehensive interactive map of school garden locations and support systems.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston will, along with the Food Project, develop a formal and expanded agricultural curriculum for their Club Garden program, including age-appropriate gardening, culinary, and workforce learning during the growing season.

Massachusetts Farm to School will support innovative local food purchasing and promotion efforts for school districts across MA.

Read the full project descriptions.