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FNS Announces $26 Million of Investments in School Meal Programs

FNS today announced $26 million in new grants to support schools’ efforts to serve nutritious and delicious foods to students. Headlining the new investments are nearly $6.5 million in grants that will increase healthy foods in the school meals marketplace by supporting collaboration between schools, food producers and suppliers, and other partners.

05/16/2024
image of a healthy school lunch tray
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces New School Meal Standards to Strengthen Child Nutrition

Secretary Tom Vilsack announced major steps to promote the health of America’s children through school meals. Nutrition standards for school meals will be gradually updated to include less sugar and flexibility with menu planning between Fall 2025 and Fall 2027. The Department arrived at these changes after listening closely to public feedback and considering the latest science-based recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 

04/24/2024
Children at camp eating at a picnic table.
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Join the Challenge: Grant Opportunities Now Open

The USDA Northeast Region announced today two new grant opportunities available through the School Food System Transformation Challenge Sub-Grants, part of USDA’s Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative.

02/13/2024
USDA Extends Free Meals for All Kids
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ICYMI: USDA Extends Free Meals for All Kids

President Donald Trump proclaimed this week National School Lunch Week 2020, highlighting the vital role of school nutrition professionals in ensuring that children in all communities nationwide continue to get nutritious meals, despite the challenges posed by the current public health emergency.

10/16/2020
people and cows
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USDA Celebrates World School Milk Day with Visit to Lebanon, Pennsylvania

FNS Administrator Pam Miller visited two sites in Lebanon, PA, today to celebrate World School Milk Day. Miller met with the American Dairy Association North East and toured Brook-Corner Holsteins dairy farm to see first-hand the hard work and dedication American farmers put into getting nutritious milk and other products to the school lunch table.

10/01/2020
girl eating quesadilla
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USDA Extends Free Meals for Kids Through December 31, 2020

Today, Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the USDA will extend several flexibilities through as late as Dec. 31, 2020. The flexibilities allow summer meal program operators to continue serving free meals to all children into the fall months.

08/31/2020
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USDA Meals to You Partnership Delivers Nearly 30 Million Meals

Secretary Sonny Perdue lauded the achievement of its Meals to You partnership, which has now delivered more than 28.5 million meals to the doorsteps of low-income kids in rural communities across America during the COVID-19 health crisis.

07/16/2020
School Lunch
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USDA Provides Flexibilities to Ensure Kids Receive Meals This Fall

Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced a range of nationwide flexibilities to ensure America’s children receive the nutritious food they need throughout the upcoming school year. These waivers give states, schools, and childcare providers time to plan for how they will serve children in the fall, including allowing for new and innovative feeding options as the nation recovers from the coronavirus.

06/25/2020
Boys eating lunch
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USDA Ensures All Kids Can Get Free Meals This Summer as Nation Reopens

Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced a nationwide extension of another key flexibility for USDA’s child nutrition programs. This waiver allows local partners, who have been working overtime serving meals to kids during the health crisis, the ability to continue serving free meals to all children – regardless of where they live – for the remainder of the summer.

06/10/2020
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USDA Approves Program to Feed Kids in Georgia and Iowa

Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced Georgia and Iowa have been approved to operate Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer, a new program authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act  which provides assistance to families of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals dealing with school closures.

06/08/2020
grocery cart in store
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USDA Approves Program to Feed Kids in Alaska

Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced Alaska has been approved to operate Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer, a new program authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act which provides assistance to families of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals dealing with school closures. 

06/05/2020
grocery shopping
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USDA Approves Program to Feed Kids in Mississippi

Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced Mississippi has been approved to operate Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer a new program authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which provides assistance to families of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals dealing with school closures.

06/02/2020
grocery store and cart
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USDA Approves Program to Feed Kids in Hawaii

Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced Hawaii has been approved to operate Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer, a new program authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which provides assistance to families of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals dealing with school closures.

05/28/2020
basket of groceries
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USDA Approves Program to Feed Kids in Florida and Minnesota

Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced Florida and Minnesota have been approved to operate Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer, a new program authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which provides assistance to families of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals dealing with school closures.

05/28/2020
Page updated: February 09, 2021