The Keystone Fresh Farm to School Nutrition Act (HB 1768) Needs Your Voice Now
Pennsylvania schools serve more than 168 million lunches every year. That's an enormous amount of food, and right now most of it isn't coming from Pennsylvania farms. HB 1768 would change that by creating a grant program that pays schools to buy more food from local farmers. Fresher meals for kids, more business for local growers, and food dollars that stay right here in our communities.
HB 1768 covers the full picture:
- Schools get grants based on their size to help them buy local fruits, vegetables, meats, grains, and more.
- Farmers and food hubs can apply for their own grants to get the equipment and support they need to sell to schools.
- Nonprofits and colleges can receive funding to help schools figure out how to actually cook and serve more local food, including from scratch.
- Priority goes to schools serving lower-income students and to farms run by veterans or newer farmers just getting started.
The good news is that this bill already passed the Pennsylvania House with a 95% yes vote, one of the strongest bipartisan showings you'll see in Harrisburg. Republicans and Democrats agree that getting fresh, local food into school cafeterias is just common sense.
Now the bill sits in the Senate, and with the state budget season underway, the window to get it across the finish line is closing fast. The next few weeks are critical and this is where your voice matters…
Call your Pennsylvania State Senator and ask them to prioritize HB 1768, the Keystone Fresh Farm to School Nutrition Act:
Not sure who your senator is? Find them and their contact info at www.palegis.us/senate/members.
When you call, keep it simple: "Hi, I'm a constituent asking Senator (Name) to support HB 1768, the Keystone Fresh Farm to School Nutrition Act. Please prioritize it before the end of session."
It only takes one call, a few seconds of your time to make a real difference for kids, farmers, and communities across Pennsylvania. Can we count on you?
