Media Advisory: Robinson, AHRC and the Detroit Public Schools Pushing to Expand 10 Cent Meal Program for School Kids and Farms,
Press Conference: Monday, May 13, at 11 a.m./ Peaches and Greens in Detroit
DETROIT — State Reps. Isaac Robinson (D-Detroit), Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac), Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit), Kevin Coleman (D-Westland) and Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit) are holding a press conference with Imad Hamad, Executive Director of the American Human Rights Council, Sherisse M. Butler, Government Relations representative for the Detroit Public Schools Community District and Velonda Anderson, Ph. D., Detroit Food Policy Council Chair this Monday, May 13, at 11 a.m., at Peaches and Greens, 8838 3rd Ave. in Detroit to expand Michigan’s 10 cent Meal Program statewide and to Region 10, which includes the tri-county area of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.
Robinson represents Detroit and Hamtramck in Lansing. Both School Districts in Detroit and Hamtramck support expanding the grant program to Region 10. Including Region 10 in the budget would give school districts like the Dearborn Public Schools and districts across Wayne, Macomb and Oakland to benefit.
The State of Michigan’s 10 cent Meal program is nationally recognized and incentivizes the purchase of local, healthy produce for school lunches by providing schools with 10 cents per meal per day solely for the purchase of local produce.
The 10 Cents a Meal for School Kids & Farms
program has expanded for a third year, now serving nearly 135,000 students in 57 school districts and 27 counties, according to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE)
Providing grant-winning schools up to 10 cents a meal in matching funds to purchase locally-grown fruits and vegetables, the successful farm-to-school cafeteria program has more than
doubled the number of children served since 2016.
Kelsey Kasbaum, a student from Grand Valley State University’s Clinical Dietetics Graduate Program, will share experiences from the successful implementation of the program in Traverse City.
State Rep Isaac Robinson stated, “this program is a win-win for our students and local farms, a business and education partnership, that improves daily nutrition for our children and invests in our local food business economy.”
Lawmakers and local leaders will gather monday at 11 am at the produce market, Peaches and Greens. Since 2008, Peaches and Greens, has provided community residents the opportunity to obtain a safe, culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system. The produce market also supports a produce truck that drives through the community selling produce and setting up farmstands. The Detroit Food Academy, Slo Jams and the YMCA utilize the commerical kitchen at Peaches & Greens and implement similar missions of provide quality, nutritious food.
WHO: State Reps. Isaac Robinson, Brenda Carter, Tyrone Carter, Kevin Coleman, and Karen Whitsett; Sherisse M. Butler, Government Relations Detroit Public Schools Community District; Velonda Anderson, Ph. D., Detroit Food Policy Council Chair; Imad Hamad, Executive Director, American Human Rights Council, Lisa Johanon, Central Detroit Christian; Jen Rusciano, Detroit Food Academy; Shirley Davis, President, Northend Neighbors; Chrysanthea Boyd, President of Woodward Village Neighborhood Association; Amy Kuras, Research and Policy Program Manager at the Detroit Food Policy Council; Kelsey Kasbaum, Grand Valley State University’s Clinical Dietetics Graduate Program; Loren Glover, ARC Detroit.
WHERE: Peaches and Greens – 8838 3rd Ave., Detroit
WHEN: Monday, May 13, at 11 a.m.
Contact: Rep. Isaac Robinson Phone: (313) 739-5093
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