LANSING - State Representative Terry Brown (D-Pigeon) praised a bipartisan plan signed into law today that creates farm-to-school initiatives to help make fresh, locally grown foods available in school cafeterias.
"This plan is a common-sense way to meet two very important goals: supporting our local farmers and making sure our community's children get healthy meals at school," said Brown, a member of the House Agriculture Committee who co-sponsored the legislation. "By increasing sales of locally grown produce and other foods produced on Thumb farms we will help our farmers increase their profits and protect and create jobs."
The bipartisan plan will:
Raise school districts' small-purchasing threshold to $100,000, giving them the flexibility needed to enhance their ability to buy and serve fresh, locally grown products.
Increase marketing opportunities for Michigan farmers and heighten public awareness of Michigan's agriculture, the state's second-largest industry.
Encourage school food service directors to include local farmers, processors and suppliers when taking bids for products.
Spur schools to serve fresh, locally grown foods and farm products.
"Offering more locally grown products in schools, from kindergarten to college, is a good step toward developing the critical habit of supporting Michigan's growers and farmers," said Brown, who obtained $2 million from the state this year to increase agricultural marketing and promotion. "The more money we keep in our own economy, the more jobs we will keep here and the faster we can turn Michigan around."