New South Carolina Program to Bring Locally Grown Food to School Cafeterias

South Carolina will soon see changes for children in school. The new "Certified SC Cafeteria" state program aims to increase the availability of locally grown foods in school cafeterias.

WRDW reports that the program will reimburse certain schools and school districts for the purchase of South Carolina-grown vegetables, fruits, and more. The program will also give incentives who source the highest percentage of their food from the state.

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture is hoping to incentivize schools to serve locally grown food to students. This will help the state benefit local farmers and give students the chance to enjoy nutritional meals.

SCDA reports that 67% of the state's districts and schools have signed up for the program. This number is expected to reach over 800 school cafeterias and serve over 500,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture operates the new school program and includes further support from the South Carolina Department of Education, according to the report.

“Our state’s farmers grow so many fresh, healthy foods, but supply chains and red tape have sometimes made it difficult for schools to buy local food,” South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers said to WRDW. “By creating the Certified SC Cafeteria program, we’re investing in our children’s future and increasing economic opportunity for South Carolina.”

Read the full news report here to learn more about what the state can expect with this program.