YORK COUNTY, SC (WBTV) – The Rock Hill School District served 12,000 meals a day to students. That's a lot of food. South Carolina law makers want to encourage schools to put more locally grown produce in student's bellies.
The bill was introduced into the House last week asking the Department of Agriculture to come up with a program that would encourage school districts to serve locally grown and minimally processed foods.
Sam Hall at the Bush-n-Vine farm in York says to have a buyer the size of a school district would be good for business.
"It would help out the local economy majorly," said Hall.
The Rock Hill school district Food Services Director Chad Mitchell says the district food supplier gets most produce from in state and regional farmers.
"For example all of our apples come from Hendersonville, North Carolina," said Mitchell.
Mitchell says the district would be more apt to buy from local farmers, but the farm would have to grow the volume of produce needed, and everything needed may not be in season.
"School is in season August to May and most fresh produce comes in May to August," said Mitchell.
Hall says if given enough time local farmers could fill a districts grocery list.
"It'll be a challenge at first but once you sign that contract it'll help your supply and demand is what it does," said Hall.
The Federal Government started a Farm to School program to try and get local produce into community schools. Currently, only one school district in South Carolina is participating in that program.
