VALLEYFORD, Wash. — Fresh, locally-grown veggies will soon be missing from many school lunch trays in Washington, due to recent cuts to the Department of Agriculture.
As part of President Trump’s sweeping federal layoffs and budget cuts, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently cut funding for a program that allows schools to buy fresh food from local farms.
The state of Washington expected $3.5 million from the Local Food for School Cooperative Agreement this year, but will no longer receive it.
Without the funding, local districts like Spokane Public Schools, Mead and Central Valley won’t be able to use that funding to buy local fruits, veggies or meats for half-price.
Madyson Versteeg owns Casa Cano Farms in Valleyford and participated in the program in the past.
She said she is disappointed about the program ending.
“Speaking as a farm that did benefit from the same program last year, it was a huge help to us financially. It was great to be able to make that connection. This year, I can only imagine how it’s hurting other farmers,” she said.
Versteeg said her farm is hoping to find other programs to continue supplying local schools with food.
“It’s really fun to be able to actually go into schools and be able to have kids taste something that they’ve maybe never tasted before,” she said.
SPS said they were planning to buy frozen blueberries and cherries through the program but they will have to switch to a new blueberry product.
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