State and local leaders are continuing to invest in student nutrition and local agriculture through New York’s Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program, which awarded $10 million this week to food projects on Long Island and in Central New York.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the latest awards as part of a $50 million, five-year initiative to help school districts across the state prepare more scratch-made, locally sourced meals for K–12 students. The program, administered by the Department of Agriculture and Markets, is designed to upgrade regional food processing, storage, and distribution systems while supporting local farmers and workforce development.
“This program is a great example of how we’re working together to connect the dots within our food systems, reduce food insecurity and support our producers,” Hochul said.
Long Island and Central NY awarded $5M each
- East End Food Institute will receive $5 million to continue developing a food hub in the Long Island region. The project will improve how school districts source and process New York-grown food and provide training in food preparation and production. Participating districts include Southampton, Westhampton Beach, Riverhead, Copiague, North Shore, and Half Hollow Hills.
- Onondaga County Health Department will also receive $5 million to expand food access in Central New York. A new warehouse and processing facility will be operated by Russo Produce and Upstate New York Growers & Packers. School districts supported include Syracuse, Auburn, Baldwinsville, Fayetteville-Manlius, and others across the region.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said the upgrades are essential for bringing fresh food into more school cafeterias:
“Ensuring our schools have the equipment they need to cook from scratch and use ingredients made by our farmers is a crucial component of getting New York food directly into our communities.”
Statewide investment in farm-to-school systems
Two new regions are selected in each round of the five-year program. The first round funded projects in the North Country and Western New York.
This initiative builds on other state programs, including:
- 30 Percent New York State Initiative – providing schools 19 cents more per meal when at least 30% of lunch ingredients are NY-sourced.
- Farm-to-School grants – connecting districts with local farms and food producers.
- Technical assistance programs – helping schools navigate procurement and storage challenges.
During the 2023–2024 school year, more than $9.7 million was spent on New York farm products by schools participating in the incentive program.
Local leaders highlight impact
Officials praised the new investments as a win for students, farmers, and communities.
“This will help ensure our students…have good nutritious food prepared for them while at school,” said Riverhead Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar.
“Farming is at the heart of East Hampton’s heritage,” said East Hampton Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, adding that the hub will give farmers “new opportunities to get their fresh, homegrown food onto the plates of students.”
Assemblymember Donna Lupardo called the initiative “especially impactful,” emphasizing its role in promoting healthy eating and supporting local economies.
With three more rounds to go, state officials say every region of New York will eventually benefit from upgraded school food systems that emphasize local agriculture, nutrition, and community health.
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