In recent years, there has been significant growth in support for local food purchasing incentives (LFPIs). More than a dozen states have established programs that provide direct reimbursement to child nutrition programs in schools and early care and education (ECE) settings to offset the costs of buying local foods. Additional states are in the process of introducing LFPI bills and advocating for broader adoption of these programs.

To explore the current landscape of local food purchasing incentives across states, National Farm to School Network will be hosting a two-part webinar series in August. We will be exploring ten different LFPIs across the nation: 

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Session 1: August 9, 2023, 12-1 pm ET

Registration link HERE.

Featured States and Speakers:

  • California: Amy Garfinkel, California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork
  • Connecticut: Cyrena Thibodeau, Connecticut Department of Agriculture and Monica Pacheco, Connecticut Department of Education
  • Maine: Robin Kerber, Full Plates Full Potential
  • New Hampshire: Stacey Purslow, University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute / New Hampshire Farm to School
  • New York: Mikaela Perry, American Farmland Trust / Farm to Institution New York State

Session 2: August 14, 2023, 2:30-3:30 pm ET

Registration link HERE.

‍Featured States and Speakers:

  • Colorado: Justin Carter, Colorado Department of Education
  • Utah: Kate Wheeler, Utah State Board of Education
  • Michigan: Wendy Crowley, Michigan Department of Education
  • Vermont: Conor Floyd, Vermont Agency of Education
  • Pennsylvania: Samantha Gibb, The Food Trust

Speakers will share their experiences with their respective established programs, pilot initiatives, or introduced LFPI bills. These webinars aim to provide insights into each program's history, design, impact, and more.

This webinar series is part of a collaborative project between the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems and the National Farm to School Network. Participants can expect more LFPI resources and additional webinar opportunities in 2023. Stay tuned for updates!

Please contact Policy@farmtoschool.org with any questions.