OLYMPIA — School districts across Washington that were awarded grants under the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s $3.5 million program to help schools buy locally grown food can apply for reimbursement under the program beginning on Sept. 1, according to a press release from the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

Eighty-three school districts, preschool programs and childcare centers received grants under the program. The Washtucna School District with an award of $19,223 was the only recipient in Adams County and Maria’s Childcare with an award of $2,986 was the only recipient in Grant County, according to information available at the WSDA website.

“One of our goals with this grant program is to strengthen Washington’s food system at the regional level while helping to ensure that more locally produced food is consumed by children in our schools,” said Washington State Department of Agriculture Director Derek Sandison in the press release.

The grants are part of WSDA’s Focus on Food Initiative, which the department launched in 2019 with the intention of helping local farmers market their produce to local consumers.