More State Aid for Farm to School Programs Will Be Celebrated at East End Food Institute

While cuts to a large number of programs aimed at helping public schools continue at the federal level, New York State is ramping up its commitment to ensuring that all children have access to healthy, nutritious and sustainably sourced food during the school day.

Earlier this week, Governor Kathy Hochul announced she’d be releasing an additional $10 million in state aid for projects that encourage the use of fresh New York State farm products in meal preparation for K-12 schoolchildren, reduce food insecurity, and increase market opportunities for farmers. Local school districts will benefit from that aid, including Southampton, Westhampton Beach and Riverhead.

October is Farm to School Month, and in celebration of that designation, New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball will visit the East End Food Institute in Riverhead on Tuesday, October 21, at 2 p.m. During his visit, he will formally announce the releasing of the $10 million, which is part three of the Regional Food Infrastructure Program. Four regions in the state have already received $20 million as part of that program, to bring healthy, New York foods to schools across the state.

The East End Food Institute has been a big beneficiary of the program as well. Earlier this year, the organization received a $5 million award through Round 2 of the State’s RSFI Program. The awarded project focuses on addressing logistical challenges that schools and institutions face in sourcing local food. East End Food Institute will incorporate workforce development training into the project by providing staff with training focused on food preparation and production.

First announced in Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2023 State of the State, the RSFI Program provides a total $50 million over five years to eligible applicants in all ten regions of New York State to facilitate the on-site processing and preparation of fresh, nutritious meals; increase the use of more healthy, local New York food products; and provide a boost to New York farmers. RSFI builds on New York’s many programs that prioritize local foods in schools, including tools to help school districts procure and purchase farm products from local producers, ensuring that New York remains New York’s first and best customer.

In addition to Ball, East End Food Institute Executive Director Marci Moreau will be in attendance at the Tuesday ceremony, along with Regan Kiembock, director of food services for the Southampton School District.

There will be a ceremonial planting of the first seedling for the food hub’s produce garden, and the event will celebrate the East End Food Institute’s continued work on their food hub, which is positioned to serve as a centralized hub for food aggregation, processing, and distribution in the Long Island area, including in schools.