The Department of Education (Department) strives to improve student health, enrich the local food system through the support and increase of local food procurement, and expand relationships between public schools and agricultural communities.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the delay of the germplasm deposit requirement for asexually reproduced varieties protected by the Plant Variety Protection Office.  Due to continued technical infeasibilities, this requirement is delayed until further notice.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to purchase Frozen Fruit Cups for distribution to National School Lunch Program and other Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will partner with the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), the Wisconsin Farmers Union (WFU) and the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative (WFHC) to engage and convene producers, distributors, community organizations, food security partners and tribal governments to establish local food system connections and a pipeline in which socially disadvantaged producers can secure markets and provide local food to underserved communities.

Maryland Department of Agriculture will develop a new market for the invasive blue catfish and increase sales for Maryland farmers in this project. Additionally, MDA and its subcontractors – the Maryland Food Bank and the Capitol Area Food Bank -- will distribute $5.955 million of fresh, local produce and other ag products to address hunger in the population of need -- approximately 2 million Marylanders.