After a long, busy summer, the Growers and Producers Forum meetings have resumed their schedule for the year and into next year. As in previous months, we’ll be hosting a number of different guests and topics centered around our local food system and the agriculture community.
Our next Growers and Producers Forum takes place today, Thursday, October 16, with a discussion on the topic of soil health. This subject has been receiving some attention as of late, as we realize how important soil health is to not only our ecosystem but also to our own physical health. We will discuss ways to not only improve soil health and quality but also how to sustain it throughout the growing season and future seasons. This information is vital for backyard gardeners and larger-scale growers alike.
Please join our team today Thursday, October 16, from 4:00 to 5:30pm, at the Community United Methodist Church on Lewis Street. Feel free to bring a water bottle and a light snack.
These Growers and Producers Forum meetings will continue to be held every other month up to May of 2026. We will post upcoming events, times, and locations on the Healthy Archuleta website as well as our social media pages and local publications. To learn more about the forum and Healthy Archuleta, please visit our website at www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org.
Propositions LL and MM Will Impact School Nutrition
Ballots have been mailed for the November election and Colorado voters will be considering two statewide ballot measures, Propositions LL and MM, which directly impact the funding for the program Healthy School Meals for All. Healthy School Meals for All was passed by voters in 2022 and offers free breakfast and lunch to all students in participating school districts.
The program began with the 2023-2024 school year, with Archuleta School District as one of the participating districts. This means that all Archuleta School District students have access to free breakfast and lunch everyday. The program saw an increase in students eating breakfast and lunch at school across the state and here locally as well. Increased participation plus rising food costs led to a shortfall in funding for the original voter passed proposition.
The two measures that will be on the ballot this year were developed to address the funding for Healthy School Meals for All in Colorado. This is what we know about these two propositions:
Proposition LL would allow the state to keep and spend revenue collected under Proposition FF (2022) that exceeded initial projections. These additional funds would be used to continue funding for free school meals for students, rather than these funds being refunded to taxpayers.
Proposition MM would further reduce state income tax deductions for individuals with federal taxable income over $300,000. This change is expected to generate approximately $95 million annually, which would be dedicated to sustaining the Healthy School Meals for All program.
These two ballot questions are important because the Healthy School Meals for All program provides free breakfast and lunch for every student in participating schools. It also offers grants for schools to purchase local foods from Colorado farmers and producers, supports school food service staff with stipends or wage increases, and provides resources and technical assistance to help schools prepare healthier, less processed meals.
If Proposition LL does not pass, surplus revenue already collected may need to be refunded. If Proposition MM does not pass, current deduction rules will remain in place, and the additional projected funding would not be raised. Passage of both Propositions LL and MM means Healthy School Meals for All will continue, and free breakfast and lunch for all students will be provided in participating districts. If the ballot measures do not pass, the Healthy School Meals for All program will end on December 31, 2025, and school districts will return to having families complete financial paperwork to qualify for either free or reduced-priced meals for their students.
These measures do not change the day-to-day operations of schools but determine how the state will fund school nutrition efforts that serve all Colorado students. Voters are encouraged to take the time to better understand what is on the ballot and determine on their own how these measures may shape access to nutritious meals in schools across the state.