The School lunch program began in the 1940’s as a matter of National Security when many of our young men could not pass their army physical due to malnutrition.
The USDA Food program was initiated to help farmers who could not sell all of their crops at market.
The same food products you buy at the grocery store are often the same commodity items we use. The amount of food we receive from the commodity program is based upon the number of students to whom we served lunch during the previous school year.
School lunch program funding does not come from property taxes. Most of our revenue comes from the school lunches that we sell and via ala carte programs.
Federal funding for child nutrition programs is included in the annual agriculture appropriations bill. Generally more than $10 billion, 50 percent comes from general revenues (taxes) and the other 50 percent from Section 32 of the Agriculture Adjustment Act of 1935, which allocates 30 percent of all import duties to the Ag. Department.
