AUSTIN - On Tuesday, June 2, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller will join preschool students at Mainspring Schools in Austin to plant a salsa garden full of jalapeños and tomatoes. Along with 24 other Texas preschools, Mainspring Schools recently received a Farm to Child Care grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Farm to Child Care grants work to create connections in child care settings between children and the local farmers who produce their food. The funds establish a direct purchasing relationship between child care centers and local farmers to integrate more fresh fruits and vegetables into meals and snacks.

Through the grant program, children learn the power of buying local — a valuable lesson that will stay with them throughout their lifetimes.