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Spring is here! Farmers markets will soon be opening and fresh fruits and vegetables will be in abundance! The Missouri Department of Agriculture is continuing the program to reimburse child care programs for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables that are from a Missouri farmer or farmers market with produce grown in Missouri.
The Missouri Grown program through the Missouri Department of Agriculture is providing up to $1,000 reimbursement per semester (4 times) to:
- Licensed family child care
- Licensed child care centers and group homes
- License-exempt child care centers
To be eligible, child care programs must purchase specialty crops from a Missouri farmer or farmer's markets that sell Missouri-grown produce. What is a specialty crop? Good question. Specialty crops cover a broad range of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, herbs, and other horticulture. The focus of the program is fruits and vegetables grown in Missouri to support Missouri farmers.
Each school/ECE is required to complete one educational activity about specialty crop production. This activity is highly encouraged to include the farmer, but it is not required. The involvement can be either in-person or virtual. The specialty crop can be used for taste testing, and educational activity served in regular school meals and/or saved for later use, but cannot be sent home with families.
To be considered for reimbursement, you must:
- Complete the application
- Submit paid (zero balance) itemized invoice from a Missouri farmer and proof of payment which must include:
- Business Name, Address, Contact Person, Date of Purchase, Items purchased, Quantity of each item, Price per Unit of Each Item, and the Total and signatures of customer and farmer.
- Complete and submit a Speciality Crop Education Survey
- Registered in MissouriBuys
Curious to know more? Click here for more information. Have a specific question? Contact Lexi Jose at the Missouri Department of Agriculture. She can be reached at Alexis.jose@mda.mo.gov.
Child Care Aware® of Missouri will also be hosting two 30-minute Q&A times with Lexi Jose from the Missouri Department of Agriculture on May 12 from 1:00p-1:30 and May 22 from 2:00-2:30 to answer any of your questions. You can attend either or both webinars.
Explore our other Child Care Aware® of Missouri resources:
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Missouri Office of Childhood Updates
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