Schools in Pennsylvania serve more than 168 million lunches per year, providing critical nutrients to children across the Commonwealth, and making them one of the largest potential markets for agricultural producers from across the state. However, school food service providers spend only 9% of their total food cost on local foods, not including milk.
 
Local Food Purchasing Incentives, like Farm-to-School programs, incentivize school food authorities to source local ingredients to nourish and energize students. I will be introducing legislation to establish the Keystone Fresh Act to provide state level investment that will increase the quantity and variety of local products that are sold to and served in Pennsylvania schools.
 
Not only will this program provide fresh, locally sourced ingredients for healthy school meals, but it will also stimulate the agriculture industry and local economy by supporting Pennsylvania family farmers.  
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to provide fresh food to students across Pennsylvania while supporting our rich history of agricultural production.