Little Rock, Arkansas – In a major push to connect Arkansas agriculture with student nutrition, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has officially launched the Arkansas Plate Initiative. This new statewide program aims to bring healthy, locally grown food to school cafeterias across the state, starting with a pilot during the 2025–2026 school year. The initiative, created after Arkansas took over management of federal nutrition programs earlier this year, seeks to improve child nutrition while simultaneously boosting the state’s farming economy.
“Arkansas students deserve access to healthy, nutritious foods at school, and the Arkansas Plate Initiative shows meaningful progress in our effort to improve child nutrition and support our farmers and producers across the state,” said Governor Sanders. “Not only will this program give students access to fresh, locally sourced products, but it will also teach them about Arkansas’ largest industry and what it takes to keep it.”
Bringing Arkansas Farms Into School Cafeterias…