State Awards $750,000 for Healthy School Food
Twenty-nine Massachusetts school districts and organizations receive grants through the MA FRESH and MA FRESH CORP programs.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Healthy Food
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The Healey-Driscoll administration announced $750,000 in grants to 29 school districts, early education programs, and organizations across Massachusetts. Thirteen recipients are in western Massachusetts, which will receive $254,397 in total.
Why it matters
The grants fund school gardens, cooking classes, farm visits, and partnerships with local farmers that expand access to locally grown food for students. Funding also supports staff who coordinate local food efforts within schools.
The statewide total is $750,000 across 29 recipients, with 13 located in western Massachusetts. Of that, $402,000 supports MA FRESH educational materials and programs and $348,000 supports MA FRESH CORP staff hiring and training.
The players
Healey-Driscoll administration
The administration of Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, which announced the grants.
The details
Grants are awarded through two programs, MA FRESH and MA FRESH CORP, to fund school gardens, cooking classes, farm visits, and partnerships with local farmers. Examples include $40,000 each to the Athol YMCA and Warwick Public School District, and $37,740 to Frontier Public School District.
Timeline
The grant distribution was announced on November 5, 2026.
Healthy Food Landscape
The MA FRESH program extends Massachusetts' effort to bring locally sourced food into schools through gardens, classes, and farm partnerships. This round adds new recipients and funding to that existing framework.
Students in the receiving districts will see school gardens, cooking classes, and farm visits expand through these grants. Families in western Massachusetts may notice more locally grown produce and food education programs in their schools.
The takeaway
Locally sourced food in schools can be supported through both direct funding and staff who coordinate farm and garden programs. Parents and community members can ask their own school districts whether they participate in similar local food initiatives.
Further reading
Explore more on Healthy Food coverage across Massachusetts schools and communities.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 22 News WWLP.
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