The Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission (RRRC) received a total of $92,084 in federal funding to implement a program that will increase local foods in school meals and improve nutrition security for local children.
Awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm to School grants provide opportunities for children to learn about nutrition and agriculture through hands-on experiences, such as planting, watering and harvesting fruits, vegetables and herbs. The program also provides a pathway for more children to achieve nutrition security by supporting equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable food.
The RRRC plans to use the federal funding to implement the Rappahannock-Rapidan Farm to School Gap Analysis and Pilot Program. The program, which tackles barriers to local food access in regional schools, will use the Carver Food Enterprise Center’s (CFEC) commercial kitchen, which U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger supported by securing $200,000 for a roof replacement necessary to construct the kitchen, for a monthly delivery of a local, healthy entree or side dish to Rappahannock County Public School students. The initiative bridges the gap between local farmers and school cafeterias, facilitating access to fresh, nutritious food for students.
“As the only Virginian on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, I’m glad to see more than $90,000 in federal funding coming home to Virginia’s Seventh District to help bridge the gap between local farmers and school cafeterias. In 2022, I was proud to help secure $200,000 in federal funding to support the addition of the Carver Center’s commercial kitchen — and I’m pleased that this facility will now be used to prepare healthy meals for students.” said Spanberger. “I applaud the RRRC’s work with agricultural and local food system partners, and I look forward to seeing how the Carver Center can bring this program to life.”
Mallory Grady, Farm to School Associate for the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission, said the commission is excited for the opportunity to collaborate with community partners on an impactful project.
“By providing students with learning experiences about farming, nutrition, and sustainability and by serving delicious meals with locally sourced ingredients, we can encourage healthy food choices and strengthen our region’s connection to local agriculture,” Grady said.
In 2022, Spanberger secured $200,000 in federal funding to support renovations to the Carver Center, including the addition of a food processing center and a commercial kitchen for educational use and small business operations. The kitchen has processed more than a ton of produce into ready-to-eat meals and boasts the ability to produce 700 meals at once.
Spanberger continues to support the Carver Center’s mission. In early 2024, she secured $500,000 for Culpeper County to make improvements to the auditorium at the Carver Center. The improvements — such as additional fixed seating, lighting, stage repairs, and audio-visual updates — will allow for the existing building to be fully utilized to hold educational and community events both for current users of the Carver Center and expand use of the space to all of Culpeper County.
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Rebecca Barnabi
