Excerpts from Chris Dunker’s article in the Lincoln Journal Star on Senator Brandt’s farm to school bill:

Lawmakers advance bill creating statewide Farm to School network

CHRIS DUNKER of the Lincoln Journal Star

April 26, 2021

State lawmakers advanced a bill to create a statewide Farm to School network that would put locally grown vegetables, dairy and meat on school lunch trays.

The bill (LB396) from Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth would help connect school administrators and cafeteria managers with local farmers, gardeners and livestock producers to supply school lunches.

Brandt said the Farm to School program would create a “huge economic opportunity” for Nebraska farmers.

About 90% of the vegetables used in school lunches are imported from other states.

“I want to keep our food dollars in Nebraska, not send them to California,” he said.

In addition to providing a boost to local economies, allowing schools to source food from neighboring farmers could also create educational opportunities for students, Brandt added.

Both LB396 and an accompanying bill appropriating funds to hire a statewide coordinator for the Farm to School program at the Nebraska Department of Education passed on a 43-0 vote.