Kansas Rural Center staff share their accomplishments of 2023 and give insight into what they’re looking forward to next year.

The USDA has organized regional food business centers across the United States, and the Heartland Center will work across Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and a designated tribal corridor…

Executive Director, Tom Buller, shares KRC Updates

There are opportunities for districts to buy smaller quantities through micro and small purchase programs. These could include one-time purchases for a locally focused meal or smaller quantities for things like a school salad bar. Finally, sometimes people think Farm to School only covers local vegetables. While there are specific nutritional standards that might make it easier for farmers to sell certain products, like orange vegetables, schools can source any part of a

school meal locally.

This issue of the Rural Papers includes reflections on work we have accomplished so far, but also a preview of some of the exciting things that are coming in 2023 and beyond. Next year when we will roll out the first introductory sessions of our Farm Beginnings programming in January.

The goal will be to pass new legislation before the end of September 2023 when the current bill expires. However, like so many things Congress might pass an extension so they can spend a few months past that deadline to finalize negotiations.