Broome-Tioga BOCES shares impact of federal funding cuts

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WBNG) -- The United States Department of Agriculture is cancelling federal funding that helps put food on the table from local farmers and suppliers into schools.

Broome-Tioga BOCES Food Services relied on around $300,000 in federal funds to purchase food supplies for 15 school districts in the Southern Tier.

Senior Food Service Director at Broome-Tioga BOCES Annie Hudack said the loss of funding will make it more challenging for students to get food, but they will look for alternative funding sources.

“The money really helped support our districts and farm to school, bringing in nutritious local ingredients to our students, it helped our budgeting and to really bring in that fresh product that we want for our students, we’re going to continue farm to school throughout our buildings but that funding will hurt,” Hudack explained.

Hudack added that BOCES revives state funds for its Farm-to-Schools program.