There’s not a lot of time left in this year’s state legislative session, but one initiative that seems to have support in both chambers — and deservedly so — is some kind of Healthy Schools Act.

This would be a way for legislators to help two constituents — its farmers and its children — and maybe do its taxpayers some good, by setting higher nutrition standards for food served in school lunch programs and encouraging schools to serve more fruits, vegetables and dairy products.

Such a program would address the problem of childhood obesity, which is a growing concern not just in New York but all over the country. It is serious because of the health risks it creates for people not only when they’re young but, if nothing is done, when they get older. There are frequently costs incurred by the public when someone is so overweight that they have trouble holding down a job, they get a sick a lot, or they die prematurely. So there’s definitely a public interest in doing something about the problem, and better nutrition is one of the best ways.

Getting kids to eat more fruit and vegetables is a no-brainer, even if it costs more than the usual junk-food fare. And if those fruits and vegetables are grown in New York, such an initiative would benefit one of the state’s largest (but less-than-vibrant) industries. New York produce doesn’t tend to be “factory-farmed” as in other states, so sometimes it is more expensive. But as oil prices have raised the cost of transporting such goods from faraway places, the cost difference has shrunk. If it isn’t already, buying local may prove to be a better deal soon. And even it does produce a slightly higher bottom line initially, buying locally grown produce has other tangible benefits down the line that make it worthwhile.

Both houses of New York’s Legislature passed versions of a Healthy Foods Act last year, but the measures were never reconciled in a conference committee. Problems with last year’s bills have been addressed, however, so there’s no excuse this time. And with fuel prices 20 percent higher than a year ago, there’s more logic than ever for giving locally grown produce a push.