Evanston Grows Receives Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant to Supply Local Produce to Schools
Evanston Grows, a non-profit organization, has been awarded a $107,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant program. This funding will enable Evanston Grows to expand its operations, including staffing and infrastructure, to provide locally grown produce to Evanston Township High School (ETHS) and District 65 schools. The initiative will kick off with a pilot program focusing on growing kale, salad mix, romaine, and parsley for the schools' kitchens. This expansion aims to support the local food system and integrate fresh, nutritious produce into student meals. The organization also received an additional $55,000 from the Chicago Food Policy Action Council’s Good Food Purchasing Initiative, further bolstering its capacity for year-round growing and institutional procurement. The infrastructure improvements will include a second hoop house and a wash station at the planned Ridgeville Park District urban farm, making it more suitable for supplying schools.
