07/03/2026
On April 1, 2026, the Massachusetts State Senate passed the omnibus agricultural bill (S.3040), also known as the FARM Act. The bill includes language that would codify the Massachusetts Farm to School FRESH Grant Program. We are asking you to contact the House Committee on Ways and Means & legislative Leaders to pass similar legislation (H.4854) that includes language establishing a permanent Farm to School FRESH Grant Program as well as a Local Food Incentive Program. Many of the bill's provisions strengthen the capacity of Massachusetts farmers to supply schools with fresh, nutritional options by investing back into the agricultural systems that make FRESH successful.
The Massachusetts Farm to School FRESH Grant program supports early education and care centers and K-12 schools in expanding their local food purchasing and farm-to-school education.
The program helps provide students with healthy, locally grown food options that improve student health. Additionally, the FRESH grants fund opportunities for experimental education, including school gardens and culinary classrooms, as well as infrastructure improvements and staff training dedicated to serving more fresh, local food!
Including Farm to School language from H.565 in the FARM Act would help establish a permanent Farm to School pipeline across Massachusetts! By investing in both our schools and local farmers, this legislation is a win for everybody: healthier students, stronger local economies, and a more resilient food system. Click this link to help expand the capacity of our schools to invest back into our children— and our future!
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/contact-the-house-committee-on-ways-and-means-legislative-leaders-today-to-support-farm-to-school-in-the-omnibus-farm-bill/
