The government would spend $150 million to put more fresh fruits and vegetables into school meals under a bill filed by 16 lawmakers on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, with an eye to next year's overhaul of school food programs.

The bill would require the Agriculture Department, which oversees school meals, to remove barriers to the larger use of fresh fruits and vegetables in school feeding programs. It also obliges USDA to promote salad bars as a way to encourage consumption of fresh produce.

Some $20 million would be available to schools to purchase salad bars and $100 million to upgrade cafeteria equipment. There also would be $20 million in grants for a "farm to school" program for purchase of locally grown fresh produce. "I strongly believe the initiatives included in this legislation are a perfect fit for the Child Nutrition Act," said lead sponsor Sam Farr, California Democrat.

A National Academy of Sciences report recommended on Oct 20, 2009 that schools increase the amount of fruits and vegetables served in meals. Some 31 million children get hot lunches and 11 million eat breakfast through the school meals program.

Source

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed