Bill Introduced to Help Schools Buy Local Food

Press Release

Legislation helps schools provide healthier meals while supporting local farmers

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that she has introduced the Eat Local Foods Act to help schools provide healthier meals for their students while supporting local farmers.

"Problems like diabetes and childhood obesity are clear signs that we are not doing enough to teach children healthy eating habits. At the same time, small, local farms are disappearing in a system that favors huge producers and highly processed foods," said Pingree. "Many Maine schools are taking innovative steps to address both problems, and this legislation would give them more resources and freedom to feed their students healthy, locally produced meals--at no extra cost to taxpayers."

Currently, about 80 percent of the federal funds schools receive for free-and-reduced-lunch programs are through unrestricted reimbursements. But about 20 percent of federal funding is given to schools to purchase commodity food from the USDA.

Pingree's legislation would give schools the option of redirecting 10 percent of its commodities funding to purchase local foods.

"Maine schools have found that if they serve fresh produce grown in the community, students not only eat their vegetables, but also go home and tell their parents to shop at the local farmers market," said Pingree. "This legislation supports schools who want to take these important steps and helps local farmers feed their own communities just like they used to. I really appreciate the leadership Maine schools have shown on this issue and the input they've given on how we can help them do an even better job."

In June, Pingree held a Children's Nutrition Forum at Bonny Eagle Middle School in Buxton to hear from local school nutrition directors on how the federal government could better support their efforts to produce healthier meals for students.

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