Commissioner Rick Pate received the Alabama School Nutrition Association’s Friend of the Year award during the association’s annual meeting.
“I am truly honored to receive the Friend of the Year Award. The work that school nutrition directors and staff put in every single day to serve Alabama’s students does not go unnoticed,” Pate said. “I am especially grateful for their partnership in embracing Alabama’s Farm to School Incentive Program. Because of their willingness to connect with local farmers, we are able to put more fresh, Alabama-grown products on cafeteria trays. This program is a win for agriculture, a win for our schools and most importantly, a win for Alabama’s students. I want to thank Alabama State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey for his support of this program. His support has been vital to the program’s success.”
Pate said he has focused on strengthening Alabama agriculture, expanding market opportunities for farmers and promoting Alabama-grown products.
Pate helped create Alabama’s Farm to School Incentive Program, which strengthens connections between local farmers and school nutrition programs. The initiative increases access to fresh, locally grown products for students and opens new markets for Alabama producers.
From 2020 to 2024, the Alabama Legislature funded the Farm to School incentive program, which provides schools an incentive of 20 cents per meal per student to purchase and serve Alabama fruits, vegetables and proteins. Last school year, schools served 2,179,302 meals with local products to 49 school systems. In the 2025-2026 school year, schools are expected to serve almost 3,000,000 meals with Alabama-grown products to more than 50 school systems.
The Alabama School Nutrition Association includes more than 2,500 school nutrition employees and supporters. The association supports professional development for school nutrition professionals and advances program quality through education and advocacy.
