Ten schools in New York state will pilot a new program called Grape-to-School.
It is a farm-to-school initiative that will introduce students to state-grown Concord grape juice in order to promote agriculture and locally sourced products in school cafeteria menus.
"This first-of-its-kind program will not only bring nutritious, locally grown Concord grapes to schoolchildren across the state, but will provide educational opportunities that allow them to learn more about New York's agricultural industries," Governor Cuomo said in a statement. "With this initiative, we are continuing our commitment to bringing nutritious menu items to schools in every corner of the state, and supporting our local farmers and growers as they work to provide the highest quality products around."
Two local schools are taking part in the pilot program. Whitesboro Central School District and Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES are both signed up to test out the program.
The districts taking part in the Grape-to-School pilot program include:
• Beacon Central School District, City of Beacon, Dutchess County
• Buffalo Public Schools, City of Buffalo, Erie County
• Hamburg Central School District, Town of Hamburg, Erie County
• Maine Endwell Central School District, Broome County
• Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES, Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison counties
• The Renaissance Charter School, Queens
• Schoharie Central School District Town of Schoharie, Schoharie County
• Sidney Central School District, Town of Sidney, Delaware County
• Whitesboro Central School District, Village of Whitesboro, Oneida County
• Windsor Central School District, Town of Windsor, Broome County