The National Farm to School Procurement Community of Practice is a two-year learning network for state agency officials and statewide technical assistance providers seeking practical ways to strengthen local food purchasing in schools. Built on a recent national scan of statewide innovations, the CoP will take a closer look at the new programs and strategies shaping farm to school procurement as the movement continues to evolve. Most of these approaches are newly developed within the past five years and remain largely undocumented, and this CoP is at the forefront of advancing these models through peer-to-peer learning. Unlike budget-intensive incentive or grant programs, this CoP will focus on statewide system-level strategies that mostly do not require large ongoing investment, which is an urgent priority as temporary federal funding winds down. 

The CoP is structured around a unique paired learning format that links public webinars with closed, facilitated follow-up meetings. This approach builds broad awareness of recent innovations while also creating space for participants to move beyond high-level storytelling and engage directly with innovators in candid discussions. As part of the CoP, members will be able to learn the nitty-gritty, behind the scenes details on how programs were designed and implemented, and exchange strategies with each other to adapt them in their own states.