St. Johnsbury Academy Going for Grants

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Created on Wednesday, 24 October 2012 20:54

Written by Katelyn Zenie

ST. JOHNSBURY - The farm to plate program is a strategic plan directed at Vermont's sustainable job fund, who's mission is to strengthen Vermont's food system. 

The plan was approved at the end of the 2009 Vermont legislative session, and is arranged by the sustainable agriculture council and other stakeholders.

The 2011 annual report states that the progress made is just a snapshot of what's to come. Leaders of this plan guarantee news jobs and farms, food security, education, and health for students as a result of this plan.

With the deadline to apply for the this farm to plate grant approaching, one teacher at the St. Johnsbury Academy is doing all he can to ensure the school takes full advantage of this opportunity. The grant will allow locally farmed foods to be the main foods distributed in the cafeteria at the school. St. Johnsbury Academy is applying for five thousand dollars to pilot the program come May. The program is, of course, for the good of the students at the school.

That's why James Bentley is pushing to get it approved. "I hope we get it. It's still a long ways away from us being able to implement a really large scale program," Bentley said.  "So, it's exciting that we're doing this, but these are really just initial steps." Bentley goes on to say why the program is important in schools. "Through Farm to School, we can bring in materials into our school that can make the educational environment better by saying 'Okay, this is where this came from. These are the benefits of it. Here, meet the farmer. Go visit that farm.' So it's really making students aware of the resources that they're using." It's important for students to understand the health benefits environmental benefits of the agricultural resources around them.

There are lots of opportunities to take advantage of local foods, even if you're not involved in a school system. You can find a local farmers market or dairy farm at this site. You can search by area or by type of food you're looking for, even find ratings as to the best of the best in the area.