Farm-to-School Grants Benefit Chester County

WASHINGTON DC – Two organizations with ties to Chester County have won a combined total of more than $440,000 in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it announced Tuesday (July 7, 2026).

The locally awarded money is part of nearly $20 million provided to 68 projects across the nation.

All are intended to help more American farmers, producers, ranchers, and fishers. Its goal, the department explains, is to supply local foods for school meals, summer meals, and childcare settings.

“Our historic investment in farm-to-school projects is a win-win-win for kids, farmers, and communities,” Agriculture Department Secretary Brooke L. Rollins says. “Students are nourished with farm-fresh, nutrient-rich foods. Producers access dependable markets through schools. Local economies are strengthened.”

Local Grant Winners

Winners of what are designated as “Patrick Leahy Farm-to-School Grants” are:

• Trellis for Tomorrow, Phoenixville PA, $240,465. It will “create opportunities for youths to learn about innovative agricultural practices,” explore potential agricultural careers, grow their own food, and prepare healthy food from garden produce. It expects to expand school gardening and agricultural programs at two school districts with child nutrition program sites, and extend to others. The districts were not identified; and
• The Pennsylvania Beef Council, Bedford PA, $199,870. It plans to expand its “PA Beef to PA Schools” initiative. The statewide farm-to-school program “increases access to locally raised beef, and provides agriculture-focused education to students across the Commonwealth,” the council reports. Among the program participants is Spring Hope Farm in Nottingham PA.

The grants are named for former U.S. Senator Patrick J. Leahy, who represented the state of Vermont from 1975 to 2023. He also he served as president pro tempore of the Senate from 2012 to 2015, and again from 2021 to 2023.

Our local news reporting includes articles about state, county, borough, township, and village government decisions and activities within, or that affect residents of, Montgomery, Berks, and Chester PA counties. It also includes Traffic articles about private and public transportation issues. Find more government articles here.