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Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced investments in the national school meal program that will protect taxpayer dollars while providing healthy school meals for low-income kids.  The Administrative Review and Training Grants help states improve their operational accuracy in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. The grants highlight the work of states in improving the integrity and efficiency of program administration and delivery.

Administrator Audrey Rowe today highlighted Obama administration efforts to improve school nutrition and foster healthy lifestyle choices by America’s school-age children during a visit to Sherwood Acres Elementary Magnet School in Albany, Ga.

Today, Under Secretary Kevin Concannon hosted a conference call to highlight the historic school nutrition reforms and improvements that students and families will see in the new school year.

 Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced new investments in New Hampshire and Idaho to help eliminate childhood hunger and improve nutrition and health for school-aged kids. The grants are awarded to the two state agencies to reduce paperwork and expedite certification of students for free meals in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs through a process called direct certification.

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Administrator Audrey Rowe yesterday announced the winner of First Lady Michelle Obama's Recipes for Healthy Kids competition. The contest launched last year to challenge students, parents and other interested community members to create tasty and healthy new recipes for America's school cafeteria menus.

FNS today launched a photo contest to look for and promote best practices in the Summer Food Service Program. The competition is open to sponsors and sites participating in the SFSP, which provides free, healthy meals to children in low-income areas during the summer.

Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today highlighted the importance of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act and announced the findings of USDA's first Farm to School report during the 2011 School Nutrition Association national convention.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service and FNS will conduct a pilot for acquiring fresh fruits and vegetables to build on farm-to-school programs in Florida and Michigan. The pilot will use commercial distribution models already in place and allow schools to obtain locally grown produce.

USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Janey Thornton today highlighted the importance of USDA Foods and the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act during the 2011 School Nutrition Association national convention. Thornton joined thousands of school nutrition professionals at the three-day event which offers an opportunity for a dialogue on the administration's efforts to ensure healthier meals in the National School Breakfast and Lunch programs.

USDA announced improvements included in the HHFKA that will enhance local wellness policies in schools in order to promote healthier lifestyles for children. 

USDA announced today that Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee were selected to participate in the initial year of an innovative universal free meal service option that makes it easier for low-income children to receive meals in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. 

FNCS  Deputy Under Secretary Janey Thornton today recognized 154 Dallas schools for their efforts to expand nutrition and physical activity opportunities, the largest group of honorees from one district to date.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today applauded The Office of the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative and the launch of Let's Move! in Indian Country. LMIC is an effort designed to support and advance the work that tribal leaders and community members are already doing to improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Native children.

As part of an effort to reduce hunger and food insecurity, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced USDA grants to improve sustainable regional and local food systems.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced investments in three states that will take an important step towards eliminating childhood hunger in America. The grants are awarded to three state agencies to reduce paperwork and expedite certification of students for free meals in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.

Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that Washington State University will develop and run the People's Garden School Pilot Program which will serve an estimated 2,800 students attending 70 elementary schools in Washington, New York, Iowa and Arkansas. The Healthy Gardens, Healthy Youth pilot is an innovative strategy to help our nation win the future through improved K-12 education. It explores the impact of school gardens on learning and on changing student consumption patterns so they make healthier food choices.

USDA announced today that ten states were selected as finalists to participate in a pilot program for an innovative universal free meal service option designed to make it easier for low-income children to receive meals in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today joined Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, No Kid Hungry National Campaign spokesperson Jeff Bridges, and leaders from the state and local level to launch the Los Angeles No Kid Hungry Campaign, a public-private partnership that will work to connect more than 600,000 children and teens to school breakfast and child care nutrition programs. Vilsack highlighted the partnership as a model for helping communities increase food access by promoting coordination and partnerships between public, private and non-profit partners.

FNS teamed with San Angelo Independent School District today to celebrate National School Breakfast Week by emphasizing the administration's commitment to provide our nation's school children healthy, well-balanced meals to prepare for a productive school day. 

Under Secretary, Kevin Concannon and Congressman Mike McIntyre visited Elizabethtown Primary School in Elizabethtown, N.C. today to celebrate School Breakfast Week and National Nutrition Month. During their visit they highlighted the importance of USDA's nutrition assistance programs that touch the lives of 1 in 4 Americans last year, including the nearly 32 million kids that participate in school meal programs every school day.