ER Food Services receives grant from State

ER Food Services receives grant from State
Posted on 03/22/2023
Fresh food

East Rochester Schools was recently awarded funding through the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, allowing the district to buy from local farmers. Through the grant, ER was awarded over $8,000 from the State for local purchases to try to improve relationships between schools and small and socially disadvantaged businesses. Food Services Director Matt Cusimano applied for the grant this winter, with plans to use the funds during the 2023-24 school year and submitting a new application next winter for additional funding.


Plans for the funding include providing students at the high school with a larger variety of food options, including meals made from scratch with local, fresh ingredients. At the moment, these meals will be available as monthly specials, with a potential for fun seasonally-themed options. ER Schools is working with Cornell Cooperative and Headwater Food Hub to connect to local farms who will provide the ingredients used in these monthly specials.  


Cusimano says it has long been a goal of his to bring a variety of fresh meal options to the communities he has served. He looks forward to offering that opportunity to students in the East Rochester School District.