The Northampton Public School District was one of 17 recipients of a Massachusetts Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health (FRESH) grant.  Awards which total $300,000 to Expand Nutrition Learning Opportunities for Students were announced at the South Shore YMCA yesterday by the Healey-Driscoll administration.

Northampton will receive $9,366. According to the press release, “these state-funded, competitive grants … were given by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in consultation with the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Funds can be used for, but not limited to: (a) kitchen equipment; (b) training kitchen staff; (c) training educators and other school staff on how to incorporate lessons about the food system into their curriculum; and (d) infrastructure and programming for activities like school gardens that help students learn about agriculture, food production and distribution.”

“Learning about food, how it’s produced, and where it comes from can positively impact students’ lifelong health,” Governor Maura Healey said. “Our administration is proud to award these grants to schools and child care centers across the state to support their efforts to expand opportunities for students to learn about nutrition.”

“Building the capacity of schools to offer healthier meal choices and teaching children about those choices will improve students’ health now and well into their future,” Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll said. “It’s great to see DESE and EEC partner on expanding these learning opportunities to students of all ages.”