Governor signs bill promoting agriculture

PALMER — With the stroke of his pen Tuesday, Gov. Sean Parnell put more Alaska fruits and vegetables into school cafeterias.

"You have yourself a farm-to-school program," Parnell said, putting down his pen.

The bill was a project Rep. Carl Gatto, R-Palmer, pushed through the legislature this year. Gatto said it not only brings more local produce into school lunches but also creates opportunities for children to learn about agriculture and nutrition. It wasn’t a tough sell to his colleagues.

"A 60 to 0 vote is pretty amazing. That tells you something about the entire state supporting what we’re doing here in Palmer," Gatto said.

The signing ceremony, actually more of a hybrid between a signing ceremony and a Palmer High School assembly, took place at 1 p.m. sharp in the school’s gymnasium. With Parnell’s signature, the bill became law.

For more of this story, check Friday’s Frontiersman.