Maine-Endwell Reaches 30% Farm-to-School Milestone
District certified to receive state reimbursement for supporting New York farmers
The Maine-Endwell Central School District has been officially certified by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets for meeting the state’s 30% New York Farm-to-School Initiative during the 2024–2025 school year.
To earn this distinction, at least 30% of the food served in school lunches must be grown or produced in New York State. Maine-Endwell exceeded that benchmark, with 34.3% of its lunch ingredients sourced from New York farms and producers - a total of more than $136,000 spent on New York products.
As a result, the district will receive an additional reimbursement of 25 cents per meal during the 2025–2026 school year through the state’s Farm-to-School 30% Initiative. The program not only supports student health by bringing fresh, local food to school cafeterias, but also strengthens the state’s agricultural economy by connecting schools directly with New York farmers.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets praised Maine-Endwell’s commitment, noting that districts participating in the initiative “are not only providing healthy choices for school lunches, they are also supporting the local economy by purchasing products from New York farmers.”
The certification will be shared with the New York State Education Department, which will administer the additional reimbursement payments.