The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is currently seeking public comments that could determine the future of the USDA Farm to School Census. After so many cuts to federal programs that support farm to school and early care, now is the time for us to speak up and help protect this crucial resource. Read below to learn more and make your voice heard.

OMB Control Number: 0584-0646
Deadline: Friday April 25, 2025
Notice Link

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMMENT SUBMISSION LINK

Link not working? Try https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain and select Department of Agriculture

OMB Seeks Comments Regarding:

• Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency;
• Whether the information gathered will have practical utility;
• Ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; 
• Ways to minimize the burden on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and 
• The accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used.

‍Why This Matters:

The Census provides the only nationally representative data available on farm to school participation and activities in the United States. It provides detailed information on how states and school food authorities (SFA) engage with farm to school efforts from local food purchasing, to gardening to food education. The Census illustrates the scale and reach of the farm to school movement, showing how child nutrition programs are effectively supporting American farmers, ranchers, and food producers. It equips:

• Policymakers and advocates with real evidence needed to shape and sustain policy.
• Federal, state, and local governments with data to identify trends, allocate resources, and tailor local programs to local needs.
• Farmers and food producers with insight into schools that are interested in local purchasing, and what they may want to buy.
• Researchers and evaluators with data to assess outcomes of related policies and programs (examples: Connolly and Wen, 2022; Kashyap et al., 2024)

The Census allows the farm to school and ECE movement to grow strategically, quickly, and efficiently. Census data is used to ensure financial investments are effective and reach all kids across the nation. Please take time this week to share your personal story of how you use the Census and what it means for your work.

State policy plays a powerful role in bringing local food to schools, growing school gardens, and expanding food education for millions of children, farmers, and communities nationwide. That’s why we’re excited to introduce a new resource to support partners in this work: the State Farm to School Policy Handbook: 2002-2023. 

Created by the National Farm to School Network and the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law and Graduate School, this Handbook breaks down every farm to school and early care and education (ECE) bill and resolution introduced from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2023, across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories. This resource allows users to explore legislation by state, topic, and year, while also providing insights into legislative trends, case studies, and additional resources related to state farm to school policy.

Whether you’re new to farm to school or working to expand policies in your state, the Handbook is a great tool. Use this resource to discover innovative policies in other states, see the trends in the farm to school policy landscape, or learn more about farm to school policy in your own state or region.  

What’s new in this edition?

The State Farm to School Policy Handbook: 2002-2023 builds on a survey that was originally released in 2011, and updated in 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019, and 2021. Alongside this latest edition, we’re introducing an interactive database featuring all coded bills from the Handbook. This powerful tool helps you easily search for example policies by state, year, status, and topic. Explore the database here: https://www.farmtoschool.org/policy/state-database

What are the key takeaways?

Between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2023:

• 48 states, DC, and two US territories introduced 809 farm to school bills and resolutions.
• 45 states, DC, and two US territories passed 369 farm to school bills and resolutions.
• The popularity of farm to school legislation increased rapidly in the past few years. Between 2021-2023, 43 states and DC proposed 296 bills that relate to at least one of the core elements of farm to school—128 of these bills passed. 
• The most common bill category was Local Food Purchasing Incentives, representing 22% of introduced bills.
• Farm to ECE has also seen tremendous growth: in 2021-2023, 18 states proposed 39 bills and resolutions that support or relate to farm to ECE. That’s 13% of all bills! 

In this new edition, we have also broadened our scope beyond the three core elements of farm to school: school gardens, education, and local procurement. This update includes three new policy areas that also have a significant impact on the success of farm to school: 

• Expanding school meals access: California and Maine were the first states to establish permanent School Meals for All in 2022, and this type of legislation has gained momentum ever since. Since 2021, 32 states have introduced 86 School Meals for All bills, and eight states (CA, CO, ME, MA, MI, MN, NM, VT) have currently implemented permanent programs.   

• Supporting the rights of essential workers and elevating the work of child nutrition professionals: The well-being and agency of all people who get food from the farm to the table are integral to farm to school. From 2021-2023, there were 37 bills across 37 states introduced to elevate child nutrition professionals or protect essential workers’ rights. 
• Funding kitchen infrastructure and equipment upgrades: The appropriate kitchen infrastructure is necessary to serve high-quality, scratch-cooked local food in school cafeterias. From 2021-2023, we observed 49 policies across 14 states that funded kitchen infrastructure and equipment upgrades. 

How can you use the Handbook?

The data in this Handbook demonstrates that momentum for universal school meals and farm to school policies has surged in the past few years—more than a third of all farm to school bills ever introduced were introduced between 2021 to 2023. Eight states implemented permanent universal meal programs, and 43 states and DC introduced farm to school bills.  

The momentum is real, but we’re also navigating an uncertain policy landscape. With shifting priorities at the federal level, state-level work is more important than ever, and the State Farm to School Policy Handbook is a powerful resource to help you navigate policy opportunities tailored to your state’s needs. By strengthening local coalitions, advancing smart state policies, and working together across sectors, we can ensure this progress continues.

EXPLORE THE HANDBOOK

Have questions about this new resource or need a thought partner on how to connect with your state lawmakers? Don’t hesitate to contact our Policy team for support! We look forward to hearing how your work continues to grow the farm to school movement, state by state. 

The State Farm to School Policy Handbook: 2002-2023 is co-written by National Farm to School Network and the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law and Graduate School (CAFS). This project was made possible with support from the National Agricultural Library, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture.

This week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the cancellation of the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program for fiscal year 2025, which would have provided $10 million to help schools and early care and education (ECE) centers incorporate local foods, nutrition education, and garden activities into their meal programs. Applicants to this competitive grant program were not informed of the reason for this blanket cancellation, nor when they can get the chance to reapply. 

The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program is an annual competitive federal grant program administered by USDA. Since 2013, this grant has provided one of the only dedicated sources of federal funding for schools and ECEs to connect children with healthy, local foods while supporting farmers, ranchers, and food producers. The program assists grantees in the planning, development, and implementation of farm to school programs with the goal of connecting students to their food sources through nutrition education, school gardens, and local food procurement. 

Without this funding, vital progress toward healthier food for kids and the education to learn where that food comes from, is at risk. This announcement comes on the heels of USDA’s cancellation of the Local Food for Schools and Child Care (LFSCC) funding, which would have provided $660m in funds for local food purchases to child nutrition programs. In addition to all this, communities across the country are currently facing numerous other disruptions and uncertainties. 

In the previous grant cycle, FY24 funding awarded 154 projects, serving an estimated 1.9 million students across the country, supporting projects ranging from as small as $21,000 to multi-state coordination grants of up to $500,000.

National Farm to School Network is extremely dismayed at this announcement. Cancelling these awards undermines the important progress made since this program was created by Congressional legislation in 2010 to support students’ health and build more resilient local and regional food systems. We urge USDA to fulfill its responsibility to carry out the Farm to School Grant Program each year, and offer a re-issued grant application at the earliest possible opportunity. We will continue to seek further information about this decision. 

Speak up and let policymakers know how important these programs are to your community! 

• Notify your legislators about the impact of this abrupt cancellation with our Action Alert
• Sign and share our petition calling on USDA to recognize the need for vital investments in farmers and child nutrition 
• Share this information with your networks, and urge them to speak up
• Share our story of how the Farm to School Grant Program helped your community, and the impact that delays, cuts, and uncertainties have on the people you care about. 

Update on 3/19/2025: National Farm to School Network has compiled a tracker of media coverage on the Local Food for Schools and Child Care termination. View the tracker here to see ongoing news coverage on this issue.

The United States of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service has officially terminated the second round of the Local Food for Schools and Child Care (LFSCC) program as well as its sibling Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program. LFSCC was set to provide state agencies with $660 million for schools and child care sites to purchase local food over the next three years. National Farm to School Network aims to shed light on the disastrous impact this decision will have for each state's farmers and ranchers, and the child nutrition programs working every day to nourish kids. This is a devastating loss for our community and farmers across the US. Right now we need every voice to speak out to push back against this decision.

Take Action Today

1. Contact Your Elected and Local Officials: 

• Visit NFSN’s Action Alert here to easily contact your federal legislators to raise the alarm (including talking points to easily craft your message!)
• Raise your concerns to state officials, particularly your state Departments of Agriculture and Agriculture Commissioners, to urge them to fight for these programs. Not sure who to contact? Reach out to the NFSN Policy Team for help (Karen@farmtoschool.org).‍

2. Share Your Story:
Use our Impact Form to let us know how this will affect your community. If you can speak on record to the press about these impacts, we are eager to connect with you as well.‍

3. Spread the Word:
The effects of this program cut will be felt by farmers and ranchers, food hubs and distributors, schools and child care providers, and families. We want to help amplify stories, particularly from producers, that can illustrate this for policymakers and the press. Please share this information with your networks to help inform and mobilize.

What is LFSCC?

First Round: In December 2021, AMS launched the Local Food for Schools (LFS) program as part of a suite of federal COVID-19 relief programs to help states address supply chain disruptions and boost local and regional food systems. The first round of LFS provided $200 million in Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) in non-competitive funding to state agencies through cooperative agreements. 42 states and the District of Columbia benefitted from this round. The funding was solely for purchases of local, unprocessed or minimally processed foods from farmers, ranchers, and small businesses, for distribution to schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. While states had flexibility in program design, LFS funds could not be spent on administration costs. 

Second Round: In October 2024, the USDA announced it would provide $660M for a second round of funding for the LFS program. The new round of funding mirrored the first but expanded the program to childcare. Now called LFSCC, this program would have allocated $472M to K-12 schools and $189M to childcare sites participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. The first round targeted small businesses and “socially disadvantaged” producers, and this round prioritized “Historically Underserved” producers, farmers, fishers, and small businesses, which includes beginning, veteran, and limited resource farmers and ranchers. The program opened on December 10, 2024, and many states had already signed new agreements.

How Has My State/Territory Been Impacted?

LFSCC Round 2 for states ranges from $1-75 million. You can learn more about the original projects, how much funding your area received for Round 1 (R1), and was set to receive in Round 2 (R2) on our Program Matrix.

Why Was this Program Terminated – Is this Legal?

Round one agreements that were already in place are not affected. This funding was through the Commodity Credit Corporation which can be used at the discretion of USDA Secretary Rollins. It is within USDA’s rights to terminate agreements if they provide state agencies a contractually-obligated 60 days notice. The letter sent to state agencies stated that “AMS has determined this agreement no longer effectuates agency priorities and that termination of the award is appropriate.” 

Why Do We Need This Program?

LFSCC is a common-sense program that delivers real economic and community benefits while improving child nutrition. Here’s why we can’t afford to lose it:

• Smart, Targeted Investment in Local Economies
  LFSCC directed food dollars straight to farmers, ranchers, and food businesses. This has already changed lives by forging new connections between local buyers and producers and strengthening rural economies.
• Ensures High-Quality Food for Kids
  Funding for this program can only be used for fresh and minimally processed foods. If we want to “Make America Healthy Again,” this program is a shining example of serving kids locally grown, high quality, dye-free, scratch cooked meals while supporting American farmers.
• Empowered Local-Decision-Making
  Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, LFSCC allowed states to design their own strategies for getting local food on the lunch tray, ensuring solutions that fit their unique needs.
• Transparent and Accountable Spending
  Federal law requires strict financial oversight entities receiving over $750,000 annually in federal funds. LFSCC funding was subject to audits that reviewed operations, internal controls, and financial accountability, ensuring taxpayer dollars were spent efficiently, effectively, and only on local food spent in schools.

One of the most commonly reported challenges by schools is food cost. Without this program, schools will struggle to afford local food among rising food costs, and small farmers will lose a critical market. The loss of LFSCC threatens the progress we've made in strengthening local food systems, supporting small farmers, and ensuring kids have access to fresh, healthy meals—now is the time to speak up and demand a better solution.

Introduction

‍

This year, we saw state and federal policy wins that reflected the persistence and dedication of NFSN’s Partners to policies that ensure every child is nourished, every producer earns a fair living, and every community thrives. As the year ends, we are filled with gratitude for the advocacy and dedication in our movement that made these milestones possible. 

At our Partner Annual Meeting in Minneapolis this August, we read poet Marge Piercy’s admonition to: 

“Fight persistently as the creeper that brings down the tree.

Spread like the squash plant that overruns the garden.” 

Across the country, the results of November’s election will shape the opportunities and challenges in front of us in 2025. As we work together to protect our progress and continue to improve how these programs work for everyone – especially new ones that are in the process of being implemented – it’s imperative to celebrate the success we have had. 

‍

Federal Policy

‍

This year was filled with bright spots in federal policy, even as some major legislative items, such as the Farm Bill and Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025, remain unfinished. 

USDA released its Final Rule on Child Nutrition Program Standards which include major wins for farm to school

• Geographic Preference in Local Purchasing: Child nutrition programs will now be able to use “locally grown,” “locally raised,” or “locally caught” as a specification requirement for fresh and minimally processed food items. This is a longtime policy priority of NFSN and we are delighted to realize this change! It simplifies the geographic preference process for child nutrition programs, making it easier to purchase local foods. Read more on NFSN’s blog.
• Native Foods: USDA strengthens its previous guidance that traditional Indigenous foods may be served in reimbursable school meals by including it in this rule. This gives programs more certainty that they can incorporate these products. It also finalizes the proposal to allow vegetable substitution for grains in programs serving American Indian or Alaska Native students, and in Guam and Hawai’i.  
  Read more on NFSN’s blog.

Historic awards for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program
In July, USDA announced its latest round of awards for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant. $14.7 million was awarded to 154 projects in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. This round of funding allowed the Patrick Leahy Farm to School grant to exceed $100 million in funding since 2013. In November, NFSN released a retrospective report and interactive dashboard, visually summarizing the impact of the program, and celebrating over a decade of implementation. View these resources here.

Pressure increases to target federal funding
After Congress addresses a funding extension to keep the federal government open beyond December 20, it must still pass final funding for Fiscal Year 2025 – and the process for FY 2026 will begin again in February! Farm to school advocates must press for the highest possible funding level to support farm to school in this difficult funding environment. 

USDA invests $1.2 billion for local foods in farm to school and ECE settings
In December, USDA released the new request for applications for the second round of the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program to support the purchase of locally and regionally produced foods. This investment from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) builds on the success of the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, which initially received $200 million, by adding $471.5 million for K-12 schools and a first-ever $188.6 million for early care and education (ECE) settings. Read NFSN’s December 11 blog post about this new round and find tools for advocates to get involved.

USDA launches 2023 Farm to School Census results
In October, USDA shared that 74,433 schools with 45.6 million students, representing 74.1% of school food authorities across the country, reported participating in farm to school activities in the 2022-23 school year. Collectively, these schools spent an estimated $1.8 billion on local food. These results mark a 10.5% increase in school participation from the 2019 census, and a 75% increase from the 2015 census. View the census results here.

Federal School Meals for All bills continue to be introduced
In 2024, two key Senate bills were introduced to help streamline access and increase participation for eligible schools in the National school lunch and breakfast programs. The Nutrition Red Tape Reduction Act (S.4523) expands eligibility for the Community Eligibility Program, while the School Hunger Elimination Act (S.4525) takes further steps to improve access and efficiency of the program, as well as providing funding to encourage participation in CEP. 

‍

At the State Level

‍

Last year in 2023, just over 50 bills related to farm to school passed, including some bills that combined School Meals for All and farm to school. While more wins occurred in 2024, there was more focus on implementation of the many state and federal programs established in recent years.

USDA State Farm to School Formula Grant and Local Food for Schools (LFS) implementation take root
While these federal programs are administered by USDA, the designs of these programs and implementation are up to state-level agencies (see NFSN’s LFS Program Matrix here). LFS began in 2022, but many states were still administering their programs in 2024. The incredible popularity of this program led to USDA announcing a second round. This year, NFSN hosted several webinar spotlights to highlight innovative LFS models, and has engaged in a collaboration with Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic to research models, develop case studies, and identify an advocacy strategy for a permanent federal program. Looking forward, NFSN will support state-level advocates and agency officials as the second round of funding unfolds.

2024 wins for farm to school
All existing local food purchasing programs secured funding for another year, with many programs continuing to grow (Alabama’s incentive grew from $120,000 in 2020 to $550,000 in 2024!) Connecticut launched the first year of its state-funded Local Food for Schools Incentive Program, a continuation of the federal LFS program. New Hampshire and Iowa also passed pilot local food purchasing incentive programs, with New Jersey’s LFPI bill passing out of committee on December 12, 2024! Some states established commissions, with Pennsylvania establishing a Commission for Agricultural Education Excellence and Virginia establishing a Farm to School Task Force within the Department of Education.  

Innovative bills that didn’t quite make it through the finish line
Hawai‘i proposed a recognition program for schools working toward 30% local food purchasing by 2030 and increasing the small purchase threshold for local foods. Other legislation to support local procurement included Oklahoma’s Local Food for Schools Revolving Fund, with Massachusetts, Pennsylvania proposing similar incentive programs. Oklahoma and Wisconsin introduced grant programs to support farm to school efforts, while Arizona focused on school garden grants. Minnesota sought funding for regional farm to institution coordinators, and New York reintroduced a youth in agriculture summer employment program for the second time, which would prioritize historically underserved groups, such as youth of color, children of migrant workers, and youth whose families make below 150% of the poverty level. On the early childcare and education side, Kentucky proposed incorporating “outdoor nature-based child care” into state regulations. Although these bills did not pass, they underscore a growing commitment to strengthening local food systems and farm to school programs.

A year of healthy school meals for all implementation
In 2024, eight states representing over 20% of the US children implemented school meals for all (universal meals) policies. Additional states (OR, NY, WA) have policies that allow a vast majority of students in the state to enjoy no cost school meals. The popularity of school meals for all policies has led to budget shortfalls causing concern for some advocates, but this is the result of the resounding success of these programs, with record meal participation and more kids being fed nourishing meals at school (see MA’s Terrific Trays program). In July, NFSN began a community of practice for child nutrition professionals, agency staff, and advocates in the eight states with permanent policies. 
‍
While no additional school meals for all policies were passed in 2024, many states passed incremental bills to increase access to school meals (VA, DE, AZ, OK, MD). NFSN has been supporting six state coalitions in pursuit of values-aligned policies to expand school meal access. These coalitions are building grassroots support and combining farm to school in their advocacy to push school meals for all legislation forward in their communities.

‍

The Year Ahead

‍

Make sure your state/territory applies for Local Food for Schools funding
The deadline for the next round of LFS cooperative agreements is April 30, 2025. Now is the time to connect with farm to school champions in your area and inform what this next round will look like. Read NFSN’s December 11 blog post about this new round and find tools for advocates to get involved.

New presidential administration, new legislative leaders
In the year ahead, NFSN aims to work together with Partners to strengthen and forge new federal Congressional relationships. With tight margins expected in both chambers, the new Congress presents an opportunity to engage strategically with key federal legislators on relevant House and Senate committees, educating them on how farm to school and related policies impact communities in their district and state. More than 60 new House members are headed to Washington this January, as well as twelve incoming Senators. New legislators may be looking for issues to champion and are an important audience to educate on the benefits of farm to school in their district.

Highlighting and Protecting State Innovations
Attention will turn to state governments as they maintain their priorities in the changing federal landscape. States that have implemented innovative and robust farm to school policies will need to highlight program accomplishments and protect this investment. Moreover, state legislators on both sides of the aisle will be interpreting the 2024 election results for their own takeaways on how their policies can speak to voters.

Farm to School Act
As a result of the 2024 election, two original sponsors of the 2023 Farm to School Act lost reelection. NFSN will seek a new Republican sponsor in the House to replace Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19), and in the Senate, a new Democratic sponsor to replace Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH). Once new sponsors are identified and confirmed, NFSN will work with our new and existing legislative champions to reintroduce the Farm to School Act in the upcoming Congress.

Farm Bill
With a December 31 deadline looming, lawmakers remain in heated negotiations over a deal to extend the current 2018 farm bill for a second time, punting the responsibility of passing a new farm bill to the next Congress. NFSN remains committed to our Farm Bill policy priorities that reflect support for policy changes within our core sphere of expertise, and wider spheres where we can stand in solidarity with calls to shift the economic, cultural, and decision-making power governing our food system.

Potential Child Nutrition Reauthorization Attempt in 2025
The last reauthorization of omnibus child nutrition legislation, the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, is almost ten years overdue for renewal. It remains to be seen whether the 119th Congress will take up this package – we are eager to build on the amazing progress in child nutrition since 2010, but also stand ready to defend the strength of these programs from potential attempts to reduce funding or access. 

‍

Upcoming Resources and Actions from NFSN

‍

See you at the National National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
The 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference is officially scheduled for June 3-6, 2025 in Albuquerque, NM! Hosted by NFSN, this biennial event (not hosted since 2018 due to the pandemic) will convene hundreds of movement leaders working to source local food for institutional cafeterias and foster a culture of healthy food and agricultural literacy across America. There will be opportunities for networking and peer learning among policy advocates at all levels – you won’t want to miss it. View our webpage here.

‍Releasing new edition of the State Policy Handbook, continued bill tracking
In February, NFSN and collaborators at Vermont Law School will release the new Handbook edition, designed to analyze and provide an overview of over two decades of legislation. This edition will include bills from 2021-2023, and unveil a new interactive database of bills, and offer additional insights on bills that expand school meals access, support workers’ rights, and provide funding for kitchen equipment and infrastructure in addition to farm to school bills. NFSN staff and law student researchers will continue to review 2025 bills in real time to provide advocates with the most up to date information on the current legislative session. Review the 2021 Handbook edition here.

Policy programs you won’t want to miss

• Continuing Quarterly State Policy Roundtables and Policy Office Hours
• Continuing support for School Meals for All implementing states and active coalitions 
• Topics to address in webinars and huddles:
  • The State of Local Food Purchasing Incentives - webinar - January 9th [Register here]
  • Local Food for Schools Advocacy Huddles
  • Advocacy trainings for different experience levels
  • Time to Eat bills
  • Revisiting Cash in Lieu 
  • USDA’s Expanded Geographic Preference After One Year
• New resources on the horizon
  • USDA Local Food for Schools Program Research Project (report)
  • Centering Youth in School Meals for All Advocacy (brief)
  • Framing budgets for School Meals for All Policies (brief)
  • Pathways for Values-Aligned Universal Meals (report)
  • Policy Spotlight: Regional Farm to School Coordinators (brief)

‍

In Case You Missed It: NFSN Policy Resources from 2024

‍

• Healthy School Meals for All
  • Youth Engagement in School Meals for All Advocacy [webinar]
  • Transforming School Meals: How School Meals for All Policies Can Drive Food System Change [webinar]
  • How School Meals for All Can Improve Meal Quality and Put Local Food on the Menu [brief] 
  • Meal Participation Continues to Rise in States After Two Years of Healthy School Meals for All [brief]
  • Graphics That Demonstrate The Mutual Benefits of Farm to School and School Meals for All [blog] ‍
• ‍For more resources, see NFSN’s Full Values Aligned Universal School Meals Resource Compilation

• Local Food Purchasing Incentives
  Visit NFSN’s new LFPIs web page for an updated map of state programs and a comprehensive hub of resources, including state-level evaluations and a suite of resources developed by NFSN and the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems in 2024. Resources include:
  • An Introduction to Incentives
  • The Benefits of Local Food Purchasing Incentives
  • State-Level Policies to Support Farm to School Local Food Purchasing Since 2020 
  • Program Administration
  • Program Development Considerations & Team Planning Guide
  • Expanded Local Food Purchasing Incentives: Programs that Reimburse More than Food 
  • Incorporating Additional Values into Incentive Programs 
  • Farmer-Focused Incentives: What if States Funded Farmers to Sell to Schools?
  • How the Designs of Local Food Purchasing Incentives Affect Spending on Local Food
• Farm to ECE Local Food Purchasing Incentive Flash Talk Series, co-hosted with ASPHN [webinar - Part 1 and Part 2] 

• Other Farm to School Policy Resources
  • What is Values-Based Purchasing? [brief] 
  • Farm to School Grants for Producers [spotlight] 
  • FoodTrails: Rhode Island's Pilot Local Food Tracking Software for Schools [webinar] 

• Farm to School Act of 2023 [fact sheet]

• $100 Million for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant some text
  • Report and Interactive Dashboard

• Local Food for Schools
  • LFS Program Matrix ‍
  • Webinar spotlights on Utah and Vermont’s farmer-focused LFS models

On December 10th, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service announced its plans for the next phase of the Local Food for Schools (LFS) Cooperative Agreement Program. Agencies (including Guam and the US Virgin Islands!) have until April 30th to apply, but are strongly encouraged to apply before the deadline. Tribal governments are ineligible for LFS, but can apply for Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) funds.

$660 Million on the table: Over the next three years, agencies will have $471.5 million for K-12 schools and $188.6 million for early care and education (ECE) settings to purchase local food. This funding will be transformative for local food systems, prioritizing Historically Underserved producers, farmers, fishers, and small businesses.

There will be one agreement per state with a single agency lead, and two distinct buckets of money: There will be funding for schools and separate funding for ECE facilities (awards on p. 10). For the first time, dedicated funding is available for ECE programs through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) (excluding adults) opening the door for significant and sustained growth of Farm to ECE. 

Similar to the first round, there are still no funds for administration: States may leverage other funding sources such as the Farm to School State Formula Grants, Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants (deadline January 10th), or another source to aid with administration costs - See the Farm to ECE Federal Funding Guide. Agencies can also strategically design their programs to reduce administrative burden (see Program Matrix). 

‍> See the Request for Applications here

> Review Q&A, Presentation Notes, and Recording from USDA 12/10/24 presentation

‍

‍

How You Can Support This Effort Right Now

‍

1. Urge Your State Agency to Participate

• Make Contact: The most important thing advocates can do right now is to reach out to your state agency and let them know that participation in this program is important to you. Agencies do not have to accept funding for ECEs if they are accepting funding for schools and vice versa.
  • Note: Agencies that don't deal with ECEs will need to either a) figure out who has the skill set/capacity in their state and then b) determine whether to set up an MOU or subaward. Advocates can help make these connections.
• Share Your Experience: If you benefited from the first round of LFS, share your story with agency staff to highlight the program's value for your school, farm, or community.

2. Provide Input on Program Design

• Share Feedback: If you have insights from the first round, offer suggestions on what worked and what could improve.
• Suggest Models or Design Features: States used a range of implementation models in Round 1. If you have a preferred model or approach, share it with your state agency.See the section below for more information about program models. 
  
  If you have distributed local foods to ECEs or have a distribution plan to ECEs share that with your state agencies. Start collaborating to help build a plan for ECEs.
  
  Note: The most important step is for states to submit a cooperative agreement application before the deadline. In the first round, many agencies adjusted their program models during the project period to better fit their state’s needs and administrative capacity. NFSN expects USDA will allow similar flexibility in this round, providing opportunities to refine programs as they roll out.

3. Spread the word

• Amplify the Call: Share this opportunity with your network and encourage others to get involved. More voices mean stronger advocacy for equitable, effective program design.

Tools & Resources for Advocates

‍

LFS Program Profiles & Case Studies 

Developed by the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic with guidance from NFSN

LFS Program Matrix: This matrix provides state LFS profiles, including:

• Round 1 and 2 funding awards
• State agency contacts
• Round 1 program descriptions, program model types, and unique features
• Links to implementation resources 
• Reports and stories on program outcomes

Note: This matrix was released early to align with USDA’s funding announcement, and will continue to evolve. Check back periodically for updates.

Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program (LFPA) Implementation Stories from the Wallace Center

• State Spotlights: Learn from LFPA state experiences in IA, OR, OH, MI, RI, VA, CA, and NM.
• Report & Webinar: Check out Wallace Center's 2023 report and webinar on LFPA’s initial outcomes, opportunities, and recommendations

Equity in LFS & LFPA

Operationalizing Equity: See how state agencies are advancing equity through program design in LFS and LFPA, as documented by the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems (October 2023)

‍

Stay Connected with NFSN

‍

NFSN will host additional programming in January 2025. Stay tuned for event details. NFSN will continue to share updates about USDA presentations via its Partner listserv and This Week newsletter. Need more guidance? Contact NFSN Policy Specialist Cassandra Bull (Cassandra@farmtoschool.org) for support on program design, state incentives, and more.

Together, we can leverage this federal funding to support our kids, farms, and communities, and make a real impact for historically underserved local farmers, fishers, and ranchers.

By Ananya Kumar, Communications Intern 

At Edible Schoolyard New Orleans (ESYNOLA), a signature program of FirstLine Schools, farm to school programming goes beyond growing food—it connects students to the rich agricultural and culinary heritage of New Orleans and Louisiana. One of the most cherished traditions at Edible Schoolyard New Orleans is Watermelon Day, a celebration that has been going strong for nearly 20 years.

The Origins of Watermelon Day
When ESYNOLA was founded in 2006, one main goal was to create meaningful “edible” experiences for students, experiences that would connect them with local farmers, chefs, and gardeners. This led to the birth of Meet the Farmer events, where students could meet the people responsible for growing the food they were tasting. Watermelon Day, along with Citrus Day and Strawberry Day, was part of the original lineup of these seasonal events.

From the beginning, Ben Burkett, a fifth-generation farmer and organizer of the Indian Springs Farmers Association, has been growing and delivering watermelons for Watermelon Day. Ben’s cooperative is one of the oldest Black-founded farming cooperatives in the U.S., and he, along with his daughter Darnella, has been a beloved guest at Edible Schoolyard’s FirstLine schools for 16 years. Every year, they grow between 50-100 watermelons specifically for this event.

A Day Full of Joy, Learning, and Tradition
Watermelon Day was held on September 20th this year, filled with arts and crafts, tastings, games, and other exciting festivities. At ESYNOLA’s flagship school, Samuel J. Green, the farmers delivered watermelons directly to the students, who eagerly awaited the chance to meet the people growing their favorite summer treat.

Each year, students learn about the origins of watermelons and the life and work of Farmer Ben. As part of the day’s activities, students make watermelon crowns, read stories about the history of watermelons, and participate in Q&A sessions with the farmers. One of the most touching moments in recent years was when a student, after meeting Farmer Ben, remarked, “Farmer Ben looks like my ancestors,” underscoring the deep cultural connections this event fosters.

Watermelon Day traditions also include making watermelon-based treats like Agua Fresca and smoothies, and engaging in the ever-popular watermelon seed spitting contest, where students (and sometimes staff) see who can spit their seeds the farthest. These activities bring joy, laughter, and a sense of community to everyone involved.

Meet the Farmer: Building Connections
The goal of Watermelon Day and other Meet the Farmer events is to build meaningful connections between students and the local food system. For ESYNOLA, it’s important that students see the faces behind their food. Farmer Ben’s visits go beyond the fun of tasting watermelon—they give students a chance to ask thoughtful questions about farming, food production, and the challenges of working with the land. Students often ask Ben how much farmers earn, what other crops they grow, and what inspired him to pursue farming. This dialogue helps students build a deeper understanding of the food they eat and the people who grow it.

ESYNOLA’s founders wanted these events to help students appreciate local produce, and that’s exactly what has happened. In fact, Watermelon Day has become so ingrained in the FirstLine Schools’ culture that students look forward to it year after year, building lasting memories tied to this sweet summer fruit. As part of the larger farm to school curriculum, Watermelon Day also reinforces the hands-on gardening and cooking lessons that are a daily part of the students’ education.

Expanding the Tradition: Other Seasonal Events
Watermelon Day isn’t the only event that connects students with local farmers. ESYNOLA also hosts other seasonal events like Citrus Day and Strawberry Day, all of which highlight the importance of local agriculture and allow students to engage with fresh, seasonal produce.

Another standout event at ESYNOLA is the annual Sweet Potato Fest, held in October. This event, primarily hosted at Arthur Ashe School, celebrates the harvest of hundreds of pounds of sweet potatoes from school gardens. The festival includes a community parade featuring the school’s marching band and majorette team, cooking competitions with students, families, and local professionals, and traditional festival activities like potato sack racing and face painting. With over 300 attendees, it’s a major event that brings the community together to celebrate local food.

The sweet potato harvest is impressive—Arthur Ashe alone produces 300 pounds each year, while the other schools harvest about 100 pounds each. The festival also features gumbo made by our food service provider, Chartwells, and sweet potato stew, along with games, a bike blender, and dance performances.

Looking Ahead: The Legacy of Watermelon Day
Watermelon Day at ESY NOLA is a day filled with joy, learning, and cultural connection. Events like Watermelon Day create lasting impressions on students, helping them understand the importance of local agriculture and the people behind the food they eat. With nearly 20 years of tradition behind it, Watermelon Day will continue to be a celebration of local food, culture, and connection for years to come.

Special thank you to Charlotte Steele, Director of ESYNOLA for speaking with us about the wonderful work her and her team do to make farm to school programming so meaningful and engaging! 

By: Ananya Kumar, Communications Intern

As part of our ongoing series for National Farm to School Month, we had the pleasure of speaking with Kyle Foley, Sustainable Seafood Director at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI). Based in Portland, Maine, GMRI is an independent nonprofit focused on developing and delivering collaborative  solutions to global ocean challenges, including ecosystem health, a thriving blue economy, and seafood sustainability. Kyle shared insights about their sea to school work and its vital role in connecting students with fresh, local seafood.

Sustainability Meets School Meals
Kyle explained that the sea to school program fits seamlessly into GMRI’s sustainability initiatives. With a regional focus on the Gulf of Maine, their seafood work spans most of New England. The program aims to build demand for locally sourced seafood, especially lesser-known types of ground fish like hake, pollock, and redfish, in contrast to the well-known species like cod and haddock. All of these types of flakey white fish are a perfect fit for institutional settings like schools. According to Kyle, there’s often a misconception that there’s plenty of local seafood already available in the region, but the industry is more complex than people realize.

“Just like the farming industry has its different sectors—beef, dairy, produce—seafood is similarly diverse,” Kyle noted. “Some parts of our seafood sector can compete in the global marketplace, but local ground fish have a tough time competing with inexpensive, readily available fish from other parts of the world. Building demand for a wider variety of local species isn’t just good for the ecosystem; it’s also essential for the fishermen’s livelihoods.”

"Building demand for a wider variety of local species isn’t just good for the ecosystem; it’s also essential for the fishermen’s livelihoods.” — Kyle Foley, Gulf of Maine Research Institute

One of the most exciting aspects of their work is the focus on increasing awareness of the full suite of species available in the Gulf of Maine. Working with schools to build demand for a broader range of seafood helps to sustain the region’s resources by harvesting what the ocean has to offer in a responsible way, instead of over-extracting one species. It also provides fishermen a more diverse portfolio of fish they can profit from, and students who are able to eat different types of fish for school meals benefit from healthy protein and a broader range of vitamins and minerals. Just like farm to school, the sea to school work that GMRI leads in the Gulf of Maine is a triple win for students, fishermen, and the wider ecosystem. 

Bringing Local Fish to Schools
GMRI’s approach to getting seafood into schools is thoughtful and community-focused. While direct connections between fishermen and schools aren’t always feasible due to the need for processing, Kyle and her team work to connect school districts with local seafood processors to bridge that gap. They also collaborate with organizations like the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, whose "Fisherman Feeding Mainers" program, which started during the pandemic, funnels donated seafood into cafeterias.

Taste tests have been a key strategy in introducing seafood to students and food service staff. "We’ve found that students are overwhelmingly positive when they try seafood," Kyle said. "There can be initial skepticism from food service teams, but after numerous taste tests, we’ve seen around 70% of students who participate in taste tests loving the fish!"

Kyle emphasized that the success of sea to school initiatives often depends on food service staff being excited about the program. To support this, part of GMRI’s work focuses on providing training for school nutrition teams, ensuring they feel confident in preparing and serving seafood dishes. In May 2024, GMRI was awarded as one of the eight recipients of the Partnerships for Local Agriculture and Nutrition Transformation in Schools (PLANTS) grant. Through this grant, GMRI is currently working with the South Portland Public School District to provide extensive training and promote enthusiasm among the food service staff, which in turn will positively engage the students. They are also continuing to partner with the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association to strengthen the local supply chain and support market opportunities for local fishing operations to partner with schools. 

Culturally Relevant Recipes for a Diverse Student Body
A standout project for GMRI has been the development of culturally diverse seafood recipes with local immigrant chefs, made possible by the 2022 New England Food Vision Prize from the Henry P. Kendall Foundation. The goal was to create dishes that resonate with the growing immigrant communities in Maine. "Many immigrant communities consume more seafood than the average American," Kyle explained. "We wanted to tap into these mutually beneficial connections by bringing flavors from home into school cafeterias."

These recipes, like a coconut lime redfish developed by Khadija Ahmed (food justice activist and chef) and a Cambodian-inspired dish developed by a mother-daughter chef duo, have been hugely popular with students. Not only do they provide a taste of home for some students, but they also introduce others to new, exciting flavors beyond traditional New England seafood recipes.

Looking Back: A Decade of Progress
Kyle has been at GMRI for over 11 years, and during that time, she’s seen incredible progress in the integration of seafood into schools. What started with a focus on colleges has expanded to K-12 institutions, thanks to increased recognition of seafood’s importance to both local ecosystems and educational programs.

Reflecting on the changes, Kyle highlighted the growing interest in connecting classroom learning with cafeteria menus, allowing students to understand where their food comes from. To address this growing interest, GMRI has developed a local seafood curriculum for middle schoolers, and through projects like GMRI’s resource library and community events, they also engage the broader community.

As GMRI continues its sea to school work, Kyle and her team are committed to building lasting relationships between schools and local seafood producers. Their efforts ensure that students not only enjoy healthy, delicious meals but also learn about the value of sustainable food systems that nourish both people and the planet.

Stay tuned for more updates and resources from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, and don’t forget to explore their Sea to School Program as we celebrate National Farm to School Month!

Thank you to our official 2024 National Farm to School Month sponsors, CoBank and National Education Association, for supporting this work.