We need your help to protect the current Minnesota Farm to School and Early Care grant today! The Supplemental Budget bill language released on Monday threatens to cut funding for Farm to School, as well as the Good Food Access Program and urban agriculture. We need your voice more than ever to support Farm to School.
Make a call to Governor Dayton's office and conference committee members today! Farm to School is at risk!
Direct access to institutional markets, like schools and child care settings, gives farmers a predictable, stable income that helps their bottom line and keeps them on their land. Keeping the supply chain local means more business for farmers AND local businesses—including processors and distributors. At the same time, Farm to School and Early Care initiatives give kids access to fresh, nutritious local food so they are ready to learn and grow. Too often, schools and early care environments that want to purchase from local farmers don’t have kitchen equipment to cook farm fresh ingredients, such as whole produce, dairy and raw meat products. The Farm to School and Early Care grant provides crucial monetary support to food service staff for kitchen equipment to cook Minnesota-grown and raised foods, addressing a key barrier to purchasing from local farmers.
Here's an example of how your call can go:
Hello, my name is _______ and I live in [city], Minnesota.
I'm calling to urge Senator/Representative ______ to protect funding for the Farm to School and Early Care grant in the Supplemental Budget Bill.
Schools and Early Care environments that want to purchase from local farmers often don't have kitchen equipment to cook farm fresh ingredients, such as whole produce, dairy and raw meat products.
The Farm to School and Early Care grant addresses this problem by providing crucial monetary support to food service staff for kitchen equipment to cook farm fresh food. It also supports staff in the research and planning necessary to start new Farm to School or Early Care initiatives.
The program has already made a crucial impact by expanding the amount and variety of locally-produced food schools and early care environments have purchased from local farmers.
Farm to School and Early Care is good for farmers, good for kids and good for communities.
Please oppose funding cuts to the Farm to School and Early Care grant program in the Supplemental Budget bill.
End the call by thanking the Senator or Representative or staff for his or her time.
Conference Committee Members:
Senator Julie Rosen (SD 23) - 651-296-5713
Senator Bill Weber (SD 22) - 651-296-5650
Senator Michelle Benson (SD 31) - 651-296-3219
Senator Warren Limmer (SD 34) - 651-296-2159
Senator Scott Newman (SD 18) - 651-296-4131
Senator Mary Kiffmeyer (SD 30) - 651-296-5655
Senator Torrey N. Westrom (SD 12) - 651-296-3826
Representative Jim Knoblach (HD 14B) - 651-296-6612
Representative Paul Anderson (HD 12B) - 651-296-4317 or 800-339-6071
Representative Paul Torkelson (HD 16B) - 651-296-9303
