Additional State Subsidy For Purchasing New York State Food Products

The State Education Department has released guidance prepared by the New York State Education Department and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The “30% NYS Initiative” provides state reimbursement up to 25 cents a meal (up from 5.9 cents) for school districts that purchased at least 30 percent of their food products from New York State farms and producers. The guidance defines New York State food products and provides information on procurement of NYS food products, determining the amount of NYS Food Products to purchase including a 30% calculation tool, and the application process, including required documentation, payments and timeline. The guidance includes a set of frequently asked questions.