The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service has signed an agreement to provide almost $3.5 million for Minnesota schools to help buy more food locally.
Direct certification is a pilot program by the United States Department of Agriculture where students on Medicaid will be automatically enrolled or re-enrolled for free meals at school. Minnesota is one of eight states to participate in the pilot program.
Minnesota students will be heading back to school in a few weeks where they'll find some changes on their lunch trays. New federal guidelines dictate more fruits and vegetables, smaller portions of meat and protein and fewer calories.