Effective July 1, 2022, the reimbursement schools receive for each meal served will increase by approximately $0.68 per free/reduced-price lunch and $0.32 per free/reduced price breakfast. Other reimbursement rates, including rates for paid school meals and child care meals, are available online.
With this comes:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is awarding more than $10 million in Farm to School grants to 123 projects across the country…[these] will serve more than 3 million children at more than 5,000 schools in 44 states and the District of Columbia.
Grants by state are here. Grant awardees with project descriptions are here.
Under this flexibility – which is now extended through the end of September – USDA is covering the added cost of non-contract formula to make it financially feasible for states to allow WIC participants to purchase alternate sizes, forms, or brands of infant formula.
This has to do with the infant formula shortage. About half the infant formula in America is purchased by the WIC program, which usually contracts with one formula company to serve participants. The USDA has relaxed restrictions on brands and imports to help deal with the shortages. For example, it:
Cheers to USDA for taking action. Action is what our kids deserve.
I am honored (hugely) to be the recipient of the 2023 Edinburgh Medal, at which I give a speech as part of the Edinburgh Science Festival. My talk, “Food Politics: Why it Matters Now” is at 7:00 p.m. Information about the Science Festival is here. A Tweet announcing my award is here.