Many protein and specialty crop producers in Oklahoma would like to help improve the nutritional value offered in the school cafeterias by providing their products to the schools on a regular basis. In addition, producers are interested in shortening the supply chain therefore easing the burden on their time while increasing their profit margin. Many schools in Oklahoma have expressed interest in both of these topics as well.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that producers of south Texas onions voted to continue their marketing order program.

In a referendum held between Sep. 1 and Oct. 3, 2022, continuance of the marketing order was favored by 78.6% of Texas onion producers voting in the referendum, and by 73.7% of the volume voted in the referendum. For the marketing order to continue, two-thirds or more of producers voting, or producers representing two-thirds or more of the volume voted, needed to vote in favor of continuance.  

LFS Program Lead

Director
Chad Burke (Acting)
Chad.Burke@usda.gov

Branch Chief
David Cottrell (Acting)
David.Cottrell@usda.gov 

Team Lead
Sarah Fong
sarah.fong@usda.gov 

Despite a short growing season and a multitude of distribution challenges, Montana schools support Farm to School efforts and value locally sourced products. Results from the most recent USDA Farm to School census show that 83% of respondents incorporated local foods in their menus.

Funds obtained through Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreements (LFS) can build on this foundation to expand the volume and variety of local products purchased, as well as the number of Montana suppliers who conduct business with schools.

The NOSB will meet to discuss substances petitioned for addition to or deletion from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List), substances due to sunset from the National List in 2025, and recommendations on organic policies.

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) will use cooperative agreement funds to support Utah’s small ranchers and provide school food service programs access to beef and bison products. USBE will procure competitive contracts with local meat producers and processors. Cooperative agreement funds will then be sub-awarded to school food service programs. Schools will work directly with contracted vendors to arrange ordering and delivery, and will invoice USBE for reimbursement, up to the total amount of their award.