HARRISBURG, Pa. — Calling it a fitting announcement for World School Milk Day, state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding on Thursday applauded Harrisburg’s Rowland Academy as the school launched a new breakfast service that will make a healthy meal available to its more than 700 students.
(Photo courtesy of Secretary Russell Redding)
An important part of that breakfast is the milk that will be available to students to nourish and fuel their young minds and bodies.
“We know that good nutrition begins in childhood, and it is critical that we work together to make sure all Pennsylvanians can access healthy, nutritious food, both at home and in school,” said Secretary Redding. “Milk plays a key role in a healthy diet, and this year and every year, we encourage schools to remember to provide healthy dairy options that taste good and help students learn, grow, and achieve.”
Joining Redding at Thursday’s announcement was former NFL player and Fuel Up to Play 60 spokesman Jason Avant, and Maria Forry, a farmer at Oregon Dairy, as well as students, school administrators, and representatives of the American Dairy Association North East (ADANE). The group held activities for the students and discussions about the nutritional benefits of milk.
“As a dairy farmer, I’m proud to support school breakfast programs like this one,” said Maria Forry, whose family owns and operates Oregon Dairy in Lititz, Pa. “It’s not only an opportunity to provide healthy meals for students, but also to educate them about the farms their favorite dairy products come from.”
Ensuring students have access to a healthy breakfast is a keystone of Governor Tom Wolf’s Blueprint for a Hunger-Free Pennsylvania, which works to eliminate food insecurity in Pennsylvania by providing access to programs and resources to individuals who are at risk. The Wolf administration has also encouraged schools to give students more dairy options as part of their meal programs.
Under new guidance for the 2018-2019 school year, low-fat flavored milk is now allowed in schools without a waiver through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s interim final rule for Child Nutrition Programs. Last month, the Pennsylvania departments of Agriculture, Education, and Health sent a joint letter to encourage schools to take advantage of this new flexibility. In recognition of the vital role schools play in both nourishing children and supporting local economies, the departments also asked schools to consider choosing Pennsylvania dairy producers and vendors when selecting the healthy products they offer students.
The Wolf Administration has undertaken several initiatives to strengthen the commonwealth’s dairy industry, including co-creating the “Choose PA Dairy: Goodness that Matters” campaign to educate consumers on how to find and buy locally-produced milk; working to attract new processors to Pennsylvania; and providing $5 million in grant funding to help Pennsylvania dairy farmers overcome challenges and capitalize on new opportunities.
Read the Pennsylvania Dairy Development Plan at agriculture.pa.gov. Find brands that locally source their milk, a map of PA Preferred® and other Pennsylvania-based milk processors, and other consumer information at choosepadairy.com.
