Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $1.2 Million to Expand Children’s Access to and Knowledge of Locally Grown Food

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $1.2 Million to Expand Children’s Access to and Knowledge of Locally Grown Food  

MA FRESH grant helps 10 child care programs and 24 school districts source local products and promote learning about nutrition, science and agriculture 

 

EVERETT – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced it is awarding $1.2 million in state- and federally-funded grants to 24 school districts and 10 early education and care programs to help them grow or procure local food and educate students, teachers, school nutrition professionals and staff about the local food system.  

 

Recipients are using the money for school gardens, indoor hydroponic growing systems, culinary classes and field trips to farms. The grants also support professional development for nutrition professionals and educators to enhance school meal offerings and bring food literacy into the classroom. Increasing access to healthy, locally-sourced school and child care meals is a focus of Governor Maura Healey's Anti-Hunger Task Force’s work to mitigate President Trump’s cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and adopt long-term solutions to hunger. 

 

“While the Trump Administration is taking away food from children and families, and hurting local businesses and farmers, Massachusetts is continuing to prioritize food security programs,” said Governor Healey. “When children understand how their food is grown and where it comes from, they can make healthier choices and support their communities. These grants also strengthen our local food system, so the benefits reach from our farms to our families.” 

 

“Seeing the hard work and resilience of our farmers and food producers in the face of federal funding cuts has deepened my respect for the people who keep Massachusetts’ local food system strong,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “MA FRESH grants help students understand how local people and industries are connected to the food students eat every day.” 

 

This funding is through the Massachusetts Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health (MA FRESH) and MA FRESH with Coordination and Optimization of Resources and Partnerships (CORP) grants. The MA FRESH grant program is administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in collaboration with the Department of Early Education and Care. Eligible applicants include early education programs that offer meals through the Child and Adult Care Feeding Program (CACFP) and K–12 schools that offer meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).  

 

“Hands-on food system education not only ties student learning to everyday life but also fosters healthy habits that extend beyond the classroom,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “MA FRESH grants help connect students to their local food system while offering learning in food literacy, nutrition, plant science and agriculture.” 

 

“It’s inspiring to see schools using farm-to-school programs to bring fresh, healthy food directly to students while also enriching their learning,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “These partnerships teach students the role local farms play in their communities, strengthening students’ understanding and wellness.” 

 

“This program invites young children to explore the journey of their food—from farm to table—and to learn what it takes to prepare a healthy, balanced meal,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “It also strengthens ties to local farmers and empowers educators to cultivate the next generation of food leaders, from growers to innovators.” 

 

“When students have the opportunity to learn about our local food system and how the food they eat is grown, they gain a deeper appreciation for farms which will lead them to make healthier choices as they mature into young adults,” said Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randle. “We’re proud to continue the partnership with our colleagues at EOE and DESE through these grants to provide Massachusetts-grown produce to school children while supporting farmers.” 

 

DESE and Massachusetts Farm to School also lift up the importance of healthy, locally sourced school meals through the Terrific Trays competition. Monthly Terrific Tray winners are chosen based on meal appeal and the use of locally grown ingredients. Each of the 2025-26 school year monthly Terrific Tray winners receive $2,500 to invest in their school meal program, thanks to the generosity and partnership of the Henry P. Kendall Foundation. School Nutrition Programs are encouraged to submit photographs of Terrific Trays featuring local foods sourced from Massachusetts farms, dairies, and fisheries. 

 

“It’s inspiring to see so many different communities and programs receiving support to expand food education, bring more local foods into school meals, and build food literacy from the earliest years. We are thankful to our Massachusetts legislators for making these funds available to schools and child care centers across the Commonwealth to do this important work. We see emerging and vibrant educational and meal programs tapping into this innovative funding to support the kind of farm-to-school programming we envision for every community in the Commonwealth,” said Simca Horwitz, co-director of Massachusetts Farm to School. 

 

“I have long been an advocate for healthier school meals and for teaching food literacy education to provide students with accurate and helpful information about healthy food and nutrition,” said Senator Jason Lewis, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “Using the Fair Share Amendment to serve universal, free breakfast and lunch at schools everyday was a critical step toward promoting food access and nutrition, but now we must continue working to ensure students receive healthy foods. Not only do these grants provide students an opportunity to access fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods to improve their health, but it also enables them to better understand the systemic issues plaguing our food system.” 

 

“As Massachusetts remains committed to free, healthy lunches for all students, this program marks another step forward,” said Representative Ken Gordon, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “Expanding access to locally grown food in school cafeterias benefits both the farmers who grow the food and the students they serve.”  

 

FY26 MA FRESH recipients: 

• Andover Public School District: $20,750 
• Beverly Children’s Learning Centers: $29,846 
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield: $30,000 
• Chicopee Public School District: $9,858 
• Collegiate Charter School of Lowell: $28,987 
• Easthampton Public School District: $29,063 
• Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical: $30,000 
• Greater Lowell Family YMCA: $17,645 
• Innovation Academy Charter District (in Tyngsborough): $27,947 
• Department of Youth Services: $14,642 
• Lowell Public School District: $30,000 
• Lowell Community Charter District: $28,905 
• Making Opportunity Count (in Fitchburg): $14,792 
• Merrimack Valley YMCA: $21,871 
• Morris Professional Child Care Services (in Springfield): $3,000 
• North Adams Public School District: $30,000 
• Old Rochester Public School District: $30,000 
• Revere Public School District: $30,000 
• Springfield Public School District: $28,859 
• The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division: $4,880 
• Warwick Public School District: $24,400 

FY26 MA FRESH - Coordination and Optimization of Resources and Partnerships (Continuation Funding) recipients: 

• Acton-Boxborough Public School District: $69,911 
• Boston Public School District: $85,500 
• Bristol County Agricultural Public School District: $85,500 
• Chicopee Public School District: $55,825 
• Collaborative for Regional Educational Service and Training (CREST) (in Andover): $14,203 
• Crispus Attucks Children’s Center (in Boston): $33,560 
• Frontier Public School District: $75,509 
• Gloucester Public School District: $14,716 
• MetroWest YMCA: $42,817 
• Nauset Regional Public School District: $55,153 
• Northampton Public School District: $45,885 
• Robbins Children’s Programs (in Attleboro): $60,499 
• Salem Public School District: $84,845 
• Watertown Public School District: $82,946