School District Five Cafeterias Will Serve More Locally Grown Produce with Help of New State Program

For Immediate Release – February 23, 2026

School District Five Cafeterias Will Serve More Locally Grown Produce with Help of New State Program

IRMO – Students in Lexington-Richland School District Five will see more locally grown foods on their plates this year thanks to a new state program called Certified SC Cafeteria.

“The ability to offer fresh locally grown foods to our students is a win for our district,” School District Five Coordinator of Student Nutrition Shana Catoe said. “This gives us the opportunity to not only expose our students to fresh produce, we can educate them on where it is grown. Offering fresh produce shows our parents and community that we are serious about serving our students the best products available.”

School District Five is one of 67 districts and schools in the state who have signed on so far, representing 874 school cafeterias serving 538,066 students in kindergarten through 12^th grade.

Participating schools and school districts will be reimbursed for buying South Carolina-grown vegetables, fruits, grains and honey, with additional incentives for those that source the highest percentage of local food.

Incentivizing schools to serve locally grown food helps South Carolina farmers, provides opportunities for students to learn about nutrition and agriculture, and puts more fresh, healthy food on children’s plates.

Created with $1 million in annual funding from the South Carolina General Assembly, the program is operated by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture with additional support from the South Carolina Department of Education.

“Our state’s farmers grow so many fresh healthy foods, but supply chains and red tape have sometimes made it difficult for schools to buy local food,” South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers said. “By creating the Certified SC Cafeteria program, we’re investing in our children’s future and creating more economic opportunity for South Carolina.”

State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver welcomed the partnership and its impact on South Carolina’s students.

“Healthy, locally grown food is more than a meal — it’s an investment in the future of every child,” said Weaver. “Through this partnership with the Department of Agriculture, we’re proud to nourish young minds, support our farmers, and build a stronger South Carolina together.”

The program also includes a new online tool, the SC Local Food Connector, that farmers can use to share product availability and contact information with buyers.

For more information, visit certifiedsccafeteria.com.

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