Newsroom

Today, FNS introduced its first ever web-based school meals program application prototype to streamline the process of applying for school meals and improve the user experience.

Today, the USDA joins youth, parents, schools, communities and partners across the country in honoring National School Lunch Week 2016, a time to reflect on the positive steps our nation has taken to make nutrition a priority in every U.S. school. This also coincides with the month-long celebration of Farm to School Month, which recognizes efforts to bring local foods into schools and onto students' trays.

The USDA today announced that up to $5 million in grant funds is available to help schools create or strengthen farm to school programs this school year. 

FNS today awarded $6.7 million in grants during the back to school season to expand and enhance training for school nutrition and child care professionals working to support healthy environments for our nation’s youth. 

Today, the Obama Administration is announcing four final rules that implement important provisions of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act building on the progress schools across the country have already made in the improved nutritional quality of meals served in schools.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today released the following statement in response to a new report done jointly by the Food Research & Action Center and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities regarding positive outcomes of the Community Eligibility Provision, part of the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which allows eligible high-poverty schools to offer school meals to all students at no charge, so they can focus on serving children the nutritious meals they need to learn, instead of doing paperwork.

Today, the USDA named 10 winners of its E.A.T. (Electronic Application Transformation) School Lunch U.X. Challenge, a public “hackathon” challenging individuals and organizations to revolutionize the way households apply for free and reduced price school meals. 

Schools across the United States purchased $789 million in local foods from farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and food processors and manufacturers in school year 2013 – 2014, according to results from the USDA Farm to School Census released today. That represents a 105 percent increase over the 2011-2012 school year when the first census was conducted, signifying the deepening commitment of schools nationwide to bring local food into the cafeteria and strengthen their local economies.

Amid pre-Super Bowl 50 celebrations today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, and Paul Rovey, dairy farmer and leader of the National Dairy Council (NDC), announced the availability of $35 million in grants to help schools upgrade their kitchen equipment and infrastructure in order to offer students better access to nutritious foods.

Today, the White House will host a conversation about child hunger in America, with experts and direct service providers discussing how hunger continues to harm children across the country. Participants will discuss the role of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other core nutrition programs in ensuring American children have the fuel they need to thrive. 

Today, on behalf of the White House Rural Council, six federal agencies joined together to announce the selection of 27 communities in 22 states that will participate in Local Foods, Local Places, a federal initiative that helps communities increase economic opportunities for local farmers and related businesses, create vibrant places and promote childhood wellness by improving access to healthy local food.

In anticipation of legislation this week from the Senate to reauthorize child nutrition programs, Secretary Tom Vilsack provided a statement.