Grants will support 29 school districts and organizations in expanding access to
local food and hands-on learning opportunities for students
BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $750,000 in grants to 29 school districts, early education programs and other organizations to expand access to locally grown food and help students learn about healthy eating, agriculture and where their food comes from. The funding will support school gardens, farm visits, cooking classes, local food purchasing and training for educators and school nutrition professionals across Massachusetts.
The grants are awarded through two programs: Massachusetts Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health (MA FRESH) and MA FRESH Coordination and Optimization of Resources and Partnerships (MA FRESH CORP). Together, the programs help schools and early education providers incorporate locally grown food into meals and classrooms while strengthening partnerships with Massachusetts farmers and food producers.
“Every student deserves access to fresh, healthy food and the chance to learn where it comes from,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants will help schools serve more locally grown food, give students hands-on learning experiences and support the Massachusetts farmers who feed our communities. We're proud to keep investing in healthy meals and opportunities that help students learn, grow and succeed.”
“Massachusetts farmers are an important part of our local economies, and our schools have a great opportunity to connect students with the people who grow their food,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Whether it's planting a school garden, visiting a local farm or preparing a meal with Massachusetts-grown ingredients, these experiences help students build healthy habits and stronger connections to their communities. We're excited to support more of these partnerships across the state.”
“Food education is an opportunity to make learning tangible, interdisciplinary and relevant to students’ everyday lives,” said Education Secretary Steve Zrike. “Through this funding, students can explore science, nutrition, agriculture and sustainability while developing the knowledge and skills they need to make healthy choices and understand the food systems that sustain their communities.”
Approximately $402,000 in MA FRESH grants will support infrastructure, educational programming and materials for activities such as indoor and outdoor school gardens, cooking classes and field trips to local farms. Funding can also be used to train school nutrition professionals to incorporate more local foods into school meals and help educators bring food literacy into the classroom.
An additional $348,000 in MA FRESH CORP grants will help schools and early education programs hire and train staff to coordinate local food purchasing and farm-to-school education. These grants support programs participating in the National School Lunch Program and the Child and Adult Care Food Program, helping them build partnerships with local food producers and expand access to nutritious, locally grown food.
“Schools are uniquely positioned to connect what students learn in the classroom with what they eat at school and the farms in their communities,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “These grants help schools turn that connection into high-quality instructional opportunities in STEM and the humanities, preparing our students for success after graduation and fostering healthy habits.”
“The early years provide a perfect window to help young learners and their families develop a foundation for life long healthy eating habits and an appreciation for the world around them,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “These grants will help early education programs create more opportunities for children to grow, taste, and learn about healthy, locally grown food while building strong connections to their communities.”
“MA FRESH funding is helping communities across the Commonwealth turn food education into meaningful, hands-on experiences for kids,” said Simca Horwitz, co-director of Massachusetts Farm to School. “When students grow food, visit a farm, cook a meal or see a local product on their school lunch tray, they begin to understand that food connects us. These grants give educators and school staff the tools to make those connections last, strengthening our local food system while inspiring the next generation of healthy eaters, engaged citizens and food leaders. We are grateful to Massachusetts legislators for making this work possible.”
Amherst Public School District: $25,835
Amherst-Pelham Public School District: $18,533
Athol YMCA: $40,000
Chicopee Public School District: $7,185
Lawrence Public School District: $25,396
Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative (in West Springfield): $11,024
Merrimack Valley YMCA (in Lawrence): $19,618
Monson Public School District: $11,300
Newburyport Public School District: $40,000
North Adams Public School District: $30,000
North Attleborough Public School District: $40,000
NorthStar Learning Center (in New Bedford): $39,314
Pelham Public School District: $8,398
South Hadley Public School District: $5,382
St. Ann’s Home (in Methuen): $40,000
Warwick Public School District: $40,000
MA FRESH CORP recipients:
Acton-Boxborough Public School District: $32,882
Boston Public School District: $42,750
Bristol County Agricultural Public School District (in Dighton): $42,750
Collaborative for Regional Educational Service and Training (CREST) (in Andover): $7,102
Crispus Attucks Children’s Center (in Dorchester): $15,102
Frontier Public School District: $37,740
Gloucester Public School District: $6,750
MetroWest YMCA (in Framingham): $21,408
Nauset Regional Public School District: $27,576
Northampton Public School District: $19,000
Robbins Children’s Programs (in Attleboro): $22,534
Salem Public School District $34,421
Watertown Public School District: $38,000
These grants build on the Healey-Driscoll Administration's work to make healthy, nutritious food more accessible to Massachusetts students and families. Governor Healey made school breakfast and lunch free for all public school students and recently announced the Strengthening School Breakfast Challenge to help schools increase breakfast participation and incorporate more locally grown food into their meals. The administration continues to support partnerships between schools, farmers and food producers to strengthen local agriculture and help more students access healthy food.
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