Mpls. Public Schools Wins $88K Farm To School Grant

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) will be getting almost $88,000 over two years to help purchase food from local farmers, the school district announced Tuesday.

The grant is part of a $5 million effort by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand access to healthy food for school children and to support local economies.

"Over the past two years, MPS has worked to bring restaurant-quality food to its students. As part of this effort, MPS has incorporated more fresh, whole produce through such efforts as the Farm to School program," MPS said in a statement. "MPS also participates in Minnesota Thursdays, where on the first Thursday of the month MPS serves lunch using ingredients entirely from local sources. In addition, MPS has introduced salad bars in more than one third of its schools."