Expanding the 10 Cents a Meal Program

S.B. 927 appropriates $3,over-800k to expand the 10 cents a meal program statewide and to both school and child care settings to purchase locally grown produce for the 2020-2021 school year. The goals of the grant program are to improve student nutrition while investing in Michigan’s agriculture and food business economy. The bill authorizes the state Department of Education to reimburse schools an additional 10 cents per meal that includes local fruit, vegetables, or legumes. It also directs the Department to give a competitive advantage in the grant process to projects that educate students about healthy eating, involve the community, and include farm to school procurement activities.