BOISE, Idaho, Oct. 19, 2010 – USDA Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Deputy Under Secretary Janey Thornton today saluted Idaho's efforts to support farm to school programs, a key component of USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative to help children across America get a better understanding of where their food comes from and how it gets to their plates in the school cafeteria. Five school districts were recently selected to pilot farm to school programs in the State through a grant from USDA's Team Nutrition. The program is run by the Idaho State Departments of Education and Agriculture.

"It's vital that we provide our children with nutritious meals so they are able to learn and thrive," said Thornton. "And incorporating local produce into school menus is a wonderful way to ensure that they have access to the fruits and vegetables that are such an important part of a healthy diet."

Deputy Under Secretary Thornton had lunch with students at Boise's Whitney Elementary School, which features a Healthful Choice Bar with a variety of locally grown fruits, vegetables and grain products.

Deputy Under Secretary Thornton also noted ongoing Obama Administration priorities aimed at improving school meals and combating childhood obesity, with a focus on USDA's HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC). Through the HUSSC, USDA recognizes schools that meet the highest standards for creating and maintaining healthy school environments by promoting good nutrition and physical activity.

The HUSSC is a key component of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign to end childhood obesity within a generation. Schools participating in HUSSC voluntarily adopt USDA standards for food they serve at their schools, agree to provide nutrition education and provide opportunities for physical activity.

In February, the First Lady and USDA challenged stakeholders to double the number of HUSSC schools within in a year and add 1,000 schools per year for two years after that. Schools participating in the Challenge are recognized with Gold of Distinction, Gold, Silver, or Bronze-level certification. As of October 13th, 875 HUSSC awards have been made to schools.

The First Lady actively supports the HUSSC with innovative Let's Move initiatives, including Chefs Move to Schools, a collaboration that links chefs with nearby schools, and most recently with the Recipes for Healthy Kids competition, launched in early September. The competition brings together chefs, school nutrition professionals, students and parents who work in teams to develop nutritious, kid-approved recipes for use in schools. Recipes must be submitted by Dec. 30. Winners will have a chance to compete in a national cook-off and $12,000 in prizes. For more information, please visit www.recipesforkidschallenge.com.

Improving USDA's child nutrition programs for nearly 32 million kids across the nation is a top priority of the Obama Administration. Strengthening the Child Nutrition Act, which authorizes USDA's child nutrition programs including the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, is the legislative centerpiece of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign. This legislation will serve as a down payment in battling hunger and food insecurity while providing critical resources to raise a generation of healthy children. To learn more about the First Lady's Let's Move! campaign, visit www.LetsMove.gov.

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs, including the child nutrition programs, that touch the lives of one in four Americans over the course of a year. These programs work in concert to form a national safety net against hunger. Visit www.fns.usda.gov for information about FNS and nutrition assistance programs.

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