The NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food (NHDAMF) will collaborate with NH Farm to School (NHF2S) and its farm, food hub, and school district partners to procure local commodity foods for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). NH has 130 School Districts that participate in the NSLP. Of the 130 school districts 44 school districts have over 40% of their student population who qualify for free and reduced meals, indicating a high percent of poverty in the community. NHDAMF will allot the 44 school districts with over 40% free and reduced school meal eligibility $22.09 per free and reduced meal eligible student. This allotment will be in the form of a credit with a local food hub, small farm, or socially disadvantaged farm. Once the order is placed the food producer business will invoice NHDAMF for the school district commodity order.
These funds will help school districts who are not usually able to participate in farm to school purchases to be able to purchase local food and support small and socially disadvantaged farms.