The Education Fund Gets Farm-to-School Grant

The Education Fund’s Food Forests for Schools program has received a $100,000 grant from the USDA Farm to School Grant program. Their food forests in many Miami-Dade schools transform public schoolyards into outdoor eco-labs that provide both nutrient-dense food for school cafeterias and agricultural education.

The food forests grow tropical fruits, greens and herbs that are harvested weekly, enhancing school meals and filling homebound harvest bags, reaching 30,000+ students every year. The grant will expand their model and procure more local and Florida-grown produce to use in school meals. They’ll also continue teacher training with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

“This USDA Farm to School Grant funding will help us provide access to fresh, nutritious foods for Florida’s children, promote science and agriculture education programs, and create economic opportunities for local farmers,” says agriculture commissioner Nikki Fried. “Thank you to the USDA for supporting these vital projects, which fuel local economies and boost our fight against food insecurity across the state.”