Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman announced today that New Mexico schools will receive funding to provide students with locally-grown fruits and vegetables.

New Mexico will receive $707,123 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program – an initiative Bingaman first funded in New Mexico in 2006 – to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables to be made available to the students at no charge.

"This program provides children with healthy food choices at school and offers local farmers and producers a market for their products," Bingaman said. 

The 2008 Farm Bill that Congress passed into law expanded the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program and made it permanent. Through the program schools can teach children the importance of agriculture and support local farms.