Five districts get grants

Five school districts in Curry and Roosevelt counties received more than $25,000 from a Public Education Department grant to expand programs that purchase from local farmers, food hubs or cooperatives and distributors.

The money was part of $332,000 awarded to 33 school districts.

Albuquerque Public Schools was the top recipient at $49,840, with Clovis one of eight schools awarded $12,457. Portales received $9,135, followed by Elida with $1,661 and Floyd and Melrose each receiving $1,246.

Shaunna Smith, director of food services for Portales Municipal Schools, said this is the district’s second year in the program. The money has been used to purchase products from a grower in Portales, a grower in Clovis and Rio Grande Community Development in Albuquerque.

The items purchased, Smith said, are items they would normally buy from primary vendors, but fresher local content is always better when possible.

A PED release said a quarter of the state’s public school districts, which serve more than 183,000 students daily, purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables through the program.

“New Mexico’s student nutrition professionals are helping to build healthy communities throughout our state, and I’m proud of the dedication they’ve shown to our students and families, especially during this health emergency,” Education Secretary Ryan Stewart said in the release. “They are on the front lines in New Mexico’s battle against hunger, while also supporting the state’s agriculture industry, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their tremendous contributions.”