Can you believe this? The Department of Agriculture just slashed over $1 billion in funding for schools and food banks to purchase from local farmers, because, you know, feeding children and supporting local farmers is so last season. But, and I mean big but, what’s the point of having a department of agriculture if not to support agriculture? (I mean, seriously, what’s next?)
The School Nutrition Association is all up in arms about this, and rightly so, because an estimated $660 million in funds for the Local Food for Schools program will no longer be available. I mean, who needs local food, anyway? It’s not like it’s going to make a difference in the quality of the food or the livelihoods of local farmers. And, by the way, have you checked out the local food cookbooks on Amazon? They’re, like, totally useless now.
The USDA website (which, by the way, is still live, despite the Department’s apparent disdain for its own mission) says that the Local Food for Schools program is meant to “strengthen the food system for schools and childcare institutions by helping to build a fair, competitive, and resilient local food chain.” But, hey, who needs a strong food system when you can just cut funding and call it a day? And, on a completely unrelated note, have you seen the prices of eggs lately? Maybe we should all just start raising our own backyard chickens to get around this mess.
Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education just got notified that their $12.2 million grant for the Local Food for Schools program is being terminated, because, you know, priorities. Governor Maura Healy is, understandably, not having it, saying that “Donald Trump and Elon Musk have declared that feeding children and supporting local farmers are no longer ‘priorities,’ and it’s just the latest terrible cut with real impact on families across Massachusetts.” I mean, what’s the point of having a governor if not to fight against these kinds of cuts? And, can I just ask, what’s Elon Musk’s stake in all of this, anyway?
The Trump-Musk duo seems to think that cutting funding for these programs is a great idea, but I’m not sure what world they’re living in. I mean, do they not know that $420 million in federal funds were supposed to go towards the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program? I guess that’s just small change to them.
Anyway, the USDA spokesperson says that funding “is no longer available and those agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification.” Because, you know, 60 days is plenty of time for schools and food banks to figure out how to survive without this funding. And, on a completely unrelated note, have you tried hydroponic gardening? Maybe we can all just start growing our own food in buckets or something.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is also speaking out against these cuts, saying that “cutting funds for these programs is a slap in the face to Illinois farmers and the communities they feed.” And, can I just say, this is not just about Illinois farmers, this is about all of us who care about food security and supporting local communities. I mean, what’s the point of having a government if not to support its citizens? And, by the way, has anyone checked out the egg prices lately? Maybe we should all just start buying egg substitutes or something.
Congress is, of course, weighing in on all of this, with the School Nutrition Association warning that cuts to school meal programs could have devastating impacts. I mean, who needs school meal programs when you can just cut funding and let kids fend for themselves? It’s not like they’re, you know, the future of our country or anything. And, on a completely unrelated note, have you checked out the school lunch cookbooks on Amazon? They’re, like, totally irrelevant now.
Anyway, the interim child nutrition programs and policy director of the D.C.-based nonprofit Food Research & Action Center, Alexis Bylander, says that this decision has “devastating impacts.” And, I mean, who wouldn’t agree with that? It’s not like cutting funding for these programs is going to have any positive effects whatsoever. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how this all plays out, but in the meantime, can we all just take a deep breath and try to understand what’s going on here? And, by the way, has anyone checked out the latest updates on the Trump-Musk situation? Maybe we can all just, you know, try to stay informed or something.