Foodlink is receiving $100 thousand dollars in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help boost child nutrition program in Rochester.
Mitch Gruber is the director of programs and innovation at Foodlink.
He says the grant from the USDA will go toward expanding Foodlink's Value-Added Processing facility, which provides ready-to-eat products to dozens of schools in the region.
"We're very fortunate to have the opportunity to receive a farm-to-school grant to improve and increase the amount of farm fresh products we're putting directly into the public school system here in Rochester."
Grube explains that Foodlink provides sliced apples to over 50 schools in the region.
Much of the preparation of those that food is done by hand, but by expanding its automation system, he expects they can triple their productivity.
Another USDA grant of nearly $23 thousand dollars will go to the Wayne-Finger Lakes Board of Cooperative Educational Services to develop effective distribution processes for available local foods, provide training to food service personnel, and create a unique curriculum for a farm to table program for students.