State Sen. Patty Ritchie is throwing her support behind a plan that would increase the amount of New York grown and produced food in students’ lunches, potentially opening new markets and boosting profits for local farmers.

Ritchie, a Republican from Heuvelton and chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, represents the western half of St. Lawrence County including Ogdensburg, Canton and Gouverneur.

Under the measure, which is so far still part of the new state budget plan, schools will receive an increased reimbursement from the state, raising from the current 6 cents to 25 cents per lunch, if they can show that their lunches included 30 percent New York grown or produced food.

“When we put more local, fresh foods in our school lunchrooms, we not only help children eat healthier and learn about the importance of agriculture, we also help expand markets for New York’s hardworking farmers,” said Ritchie.

“This change is a win-win for our children, our school districts and our farmers and I look forward to seeing how it helps to further grow New York’s leading industry.”

The Farm-to-School plan is included in state budget bill S.7506, Part B.