Earlier this year, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture was awarded a nearly $5 million Local Food for Schools grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which will be allocated to New Jersey schools that currently participate in the National School Lunch program—a concept that offers free or low-cost school lunches to kids around the U.S. The grant’s goal is to obtain locally grown foods unique to the New Jersey area and help increase local food consumption within schools.

“In addition to increasing local food consumption, funds are expected to help build and expand economic opportunity for local, small, and socially disadvantaged farmers and producers,” says Nicole Broadwater, the Farm to School coordinator for the NJ Department of Agriculture.

The funds must be used for foods grown within New Jersey, and schools have through March 2024 to use the grant money. Those looking for more information should visit nj.gov/agriculture/farmtoschool