Use the quick guide to search through our resource database. You can search by topic, setting, or keywords in order to find exactly what you are looking for. Choose a filtering mechanism above to get started.
Farm to school is taking place in all 50 states, D.C. and U.S. Territories! Select a location from the list below to learn more or contact a Core Partner.
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Use the search critera to narrow your search results or scroll through our entire library, located below. Checking boxes in multiple search categories will narrow your results; checking multiple boxes in the same category will expand your results. The date listed on a resource indicates when it was published if that date is known; otherwise the date indicates when the resource was added.
National Farm to School Network and Research Triangle Institute International
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August 18, 2021
This report and fact sheet examine how the Washington, D.C. Healthy Tots Act (HTA) and the Local5 component influence ECE site local food purchasing practices and impact local food intermediaries and local producers, with a focus on HTA impacts on low-income children and children of color as well as BIPOC producers.
National Farm to School Network and Center for Agriculture and Food Systems
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July 23, 2021
The State Farm to School Policy Handbook: 2002-2020 summarizes and analyzes farm to school bills and resolutions introduced between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2020, from the 50 states, DC, and the U.S. territories. It also includes analysis of state legislative trends, summaries of proposed bills, case studies, and additional resources for advocates.
National Farm to School Network, Policy Equity Group
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July 15, 2021
The Policy Equity Group and the National Farm to School Network, with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, are pleased to jointly release this brief that captures how farm to early care and education (ECE) efforts at the state and community levels were initially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Infographic report on local food sourcing best practices, challenges, and successes from a 2019-2021 research project tracking the activities of four Georgia ECE purchasers.
On this webinar recording, learn about the Farm to School Institute model, the evidence base behind its design, the key components of farm to school sustainability, and how the Institute is being adapted across the country.
This case study from The Common Market highlights how its Farm-Fresh Box Program brought normalcy to families throughout New Jersey and Texas, increased healthy food access and participation in meal programs, and created revenue for small to mid-scale family farmers during COVID-19.
Search your area by zip code and distance for farmers markets, on-farm markets, CSA's and food hubs. Information on locations, products available, payments accepted, winter markets, etc. available.
As part of the Kellogg-funded Farm to Early Care and Education project in North Carolina, North Carolina State University developed this guide and decisions tree to support and advance local food purchasing in ECE sites.
Collards year-round; green peas mostly in May?! Use this guide to plan menus and purchase produce that is in season in NC. Buying produce in season is fresher, tastier and often times less expensive. This is especially helpful for knowing when seasonal, cycle menus may need to change.
NC CACFP -- Nutrition Services Branch, Division of Public Health, NC Department of Health and Human Services
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January 13, 2021
Seasonal menus (meeting CACFP and NC DCDEE requirements) featuring NC produce. The menus include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks with links to standardized recipes. A blank template is also available to customize the menus to your facility.
Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) in collaboration with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) and NC Cooperative Extension
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January 13, 2021
This series has 8 publications all related to building the best garden for your childcare center. The publications include details on creating a childcare garden, growing and preparing fruits and vegetables in both warm and cool seasons, snacking and cooking techniques and composting techniques
Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) -- NC State University
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January 13, 2021
When should I start seeds indoors so they are ready to transplant outdoors in the spring? This resource gives specific answers to this question for several types of plants.
Growing Minds Program -- Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP)
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January 13, 2021
Welcome to our Farm to School bookshelf! Search the ever-growing database to find our recommendations, which are perfect for teaching about gardening, cooking, farms, or food. Use our list to find literature for the classroom, home, or even to start your own Farm to School book collection.
Growing Minds Program -- Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP)
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January 13, 2021
Exploring local food and farms with your young learners doesn't have to be challenging! These preschool lesson plans are an easy way to build connections between the outdoor environment and the classroom while introducing children to new fruits and vegetables.
A self-paced on-demand module that will equip out-of-school time staff and stakeholders with the knowledge and resources to integrate farm to school strategies into their out-of-school time programming.
This resource helps child care centers and family child care homes integrate farm to ECE activities into their curriculum while addressing the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS).
Pint Size Produce features produce and products grown in the midwest. Each activity suite includes an activity plan, a parent handout, and a half page flier highlighting key information. They are available in PDF as well as PowerPoint formats so providers and others can modify to meet their needs.
National Farm to School Network hosted a virtual Movement Meeting on Wednesday, Oct.14, 2020, featuring Karen Washington, food justice activist, for deep conversation and action-oriented reflection on racial justice in the farm to school movement and wider food system.
National Farm to School Network���s Farm to Early Care and Education Working Group
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September 11, 2020
The purpose of this document is to share the vision for long-term impacts of farm to ECE, offer a comprehensive list of key strategies to advance towards that vision, and to elevate examples and resources that demonstrate these key strategies in action.
The University of Tennessee���s Maternal & Child Health Nutrition Leadership Trainee program, Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, National Farm to School Network
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August 28, 2020
This resource and accompanying website offer reasons why farm to ECE can be helpful during the challenges and uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic and provides tips for putting farm to ECE into action.
National Farm to School Network and Association of State Public Health Nutritionists
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June 16, 2020
This resource lists reasons why farm to ECE is even more relevant during a pandemic and a post-pandemic world in supporting providers in meeting the needs of children and families. This information can provide talking points and help you connect to interested providers, families, communities, and stakeholders to help build or rebuild farm to ECE initiatives and activities.
This fact sheet outlines some of the promising practices that school nutrition providers, early care and education centers, community partners, and state agencies have seen during COVID-19 while supporting local farmers and producers in accessing markets, and helping families in accessing healthy food.
Farm to school programs provide a variety of benefits to students, parents, schools, communities and farmers. This fact sheet offers a research-based overview of the benefits of farm to school and a list of sources.
Farm to early care and education (ECE) happens where early care and education and food systems meet. Although we are often working towards the same goals, it can be difficult for food systems and early care and education to communicate because there is not a shared language. This resource from Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems aims to begin a conversation between early care and education providers and food systems practitioners to work towards developing a shared language and fuller understanding of the common purpose we are working towards.
National Farm to School Network, Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, KidsGardening
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May 1, 2020
Exploring Hydroponics includes basic how-to information for growing plants hydroponically in your classroom; lesson plans to help students learn through hands-on investigations; construction plans for simple hydroponic setups; and additional reference materials to support your endeavors.
National Farm to School Network is compiling local policy asks to create a COVID-19 Local Response Template for advocates. You can pull ideas from this template, and make changes as needed, to address the needs of your community.
In times of crisis, community-based relationships are vital in supporting continued healthy food access, community well being, and producer viability. Learn about starting a Mutual Aid Pod in your neighborhood with this infographic.
As the federal government continues to develop legislation to address the COVID-19 pandemic, National Farm to School Network urges policymakers to respond to this emergency in ways that will advance a more just food system.
In this document, find a summary of information about how the federal government has done so far to allow farm to school and ECE programs to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems
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April 16, 2020
Families and children are confronting stress and uncertainty in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents, caretakers, and early care and education providers may be looking for ways to encourage play-based learning that can teach children critical skills pertaining to this crisis - especially those related to social-emotional health. This resource from Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems outlines farm to ECE activities that can be helpful for continuing to cultivate young children's emotional wellness during this time.
National Farm to School Network has compiled information and resources related to online ordering and payment platforms accessible to small farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Farm to School Network Partners have shared these examples for how communities are working to keep students engaged with gardening activities during school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative, ISU Extension and Outreach, and Luther College Center for Sustainable Communities
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March 12, 2020
The NE Iowa Farm to School Cycle Menu was created by school food service directors as an easy way to incorporate more Iowa-grown foods onto school lunch trays.
The CACFP Seasonal Menus are designed to inspire programs to use seasonal, locally grown foods when possible. The menus are four-week cycle menus with a breakfast, lunch/supper, and snack.
Alabama State Department of Education and the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries
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March 12, 2020
This handbook was developed to provide child and adult nutrition programs in Alabama
with instructions for the purchase of raw unprocessed agricultural products as defined
by the USDA, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in 7 CFR 210.21(g), 7 CFR 226.22(n), and
related guidance.
This resource includes information about finding and choosing a farm and CSA share that is right for your program, how to use the produce in the classroom and for snacks or meals, and how to fund a CSA subscription.
National Farm to School Network and School Garden Support Organization Network
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December 12, 2019
The webinar recording features district-run school garden program directors from a small, medium and large school district sharing their experience and expertise in launching and maintaining district run garden programs.
United States Botanic Garden, the National Association for Appropriate Technology and City Blossoms
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December 1, 2019
This freely available manual was developed in response to an expressed need to help guide would-be greenhouse managers and educators as their schools explore ways to build new infrastructure or reinvest in existing greenhouse facilities.
National Farm to School Network's monthly webinar series featured innovation and emerging issues in farm to school. Click here to watch recording of past webinars.
National Farm to School Network & U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council
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October 3, 2019
On this webinar, three schools shared how they���ve used the Farm to School Playbook to put together successful nutrition celebrations with blueberries.
Farm to Institution New England & Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School
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August 23, 2019
All six New England states have some form of policy encouraging or requiring that institutions purchase local food products, including farm to school policies. Yet the laws differ from state to state, and in many cases, aren���t particularly effective. These are the findings outlined in this 2019 report.
NFSN Farm to Early Care and Education Working Group
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August 14, 2019
In this resource, the National Farm to School Network���s Farm to Early Care and Education Working Group outlines a vision for the future of farm to ECE and details key strategies at the local, state, tribal and national level to achieve this vision.
Georgia Department of Early Care and Early Learning
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August 1, 2019
This manual further clarifies the procurement requirements that this State Agency requires all
institutions to follow in order to comply with the Federal procurement processes and charge of
program expenditures.
National Farm to School Network and the Policy Equity Group
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June 24, 2019
This memorandum provides guidance to farm to ECE supporting organizations on connecting with and supporting Head Start applicants in incorporating farm to ECE into their reapplication.
MSU Center for Regional Food Systems & National Farm to School Network
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June 6, 2019
National Farm to School Network staff members share their assessment tool that helps to identify inequities embedded within programs and policy and support decision-making to advance racial and social equity.
Georgia Organics and Georgia Bright from the Start
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June 1, 2019
This toolkit details how Georgia early care providers can purchase and use more local foods while following Child and Adult Care Program (CACFP) regulations. The toolkit is also useful for providers not currently participating in CACFP.
School Nutrition Association & National Farm to School Network
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May 22, 2019
Webinar Recording: This Webinar Wednesday session hosted by the School Nutrition Association offered an overview of farm to school, including why it matters and how it supports the goals of child nutrition program, promoting successes, and evaluating your activities. This webinar was recorded on May 22, 2019.
Esta gu??a provee instrucciones paso-a-paso y herramientas interactivas que programas de MSHS puedan utilizar para empezar la compra y el uso de alimentos locales.
The objective of this study was to identify and prioritize factors to inform tailored farm to school implementation by practitioners working in diverse contexts.
"Sharing the Table: A Roadmap to Reducing and Recovering Surplus Food in Schools" shares programs that can help school staff redirect food that was assembled for student meals but not eaten. Instead of being wasted, much of this type of surplus food can be given away for later consumption by students, their families and the community.
National Farm to School Network and the Association of State Public Health Nutritionist
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April 23, 2019
Developed to support states in the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists Farm to Early Care and Education Mini-CoIIN, this webinar provides a high level overview of resources and best practices for programmatic implementation of all three core elements of farm to early care and education. The webinar also provides guidance on successful state level strategies to promote sustained state-wide farm to early care and education initiatives.
This fact sheet takes a look at states��� progress towards implementing three complementary strategies to advance farm to school at the state level: (1) state farm to school networks, (2) state farm to school positions, and (3) state farm to school policies.
This resource is intended to help advance National Farm to School Network���s racial and social equity priority by increasing our understanding of the work in the context of structural, institutional, and interpersonal racism. This tool is designed to be utilized by our national staff, Core and Supporting Partners, Advisory Board, and farm to school stakeholders.
Schools across the country are applying organic principles to the three core elements of farm to school - local food procurement, schools gardens, and food and agriculture education. This fact sheet shares keys to success for integrating organics in farm to school practices and highlights three case studies of school districts finding success with organic practices.
The Local Food Act asks agencies to set a goal of at least 20% of the agency���s purchases of food products to be spent on local food and it requires agencies to provide information on their local food procurement budget.
The toolkit includes a primer on general network models and development, a deep dive into state farm to school network best practices, case studies highlighting successful tools and tactics, and an analysis on challenges for and the future of state farm to school networks.
This quarterly NFSN webinar series provides a brief highlight of a new or innovate farm to school or farm to early care and education resource. Webinars will take place the third Wednesday of February, May, August and November from 3-4 PM ET. Registration & recordings available here.
An act to establish a farm to school and early childhood education program; to create the position of a farm to school and early childhood education program coordinator within the Arkansas Agriculture Departments; and for other purposes.
The American Indian Traditional Foods in USDA Meals Programs: A Wisconsin Farm to School Toolkit is a new resource to help source, menu, credit, and use more traditional foods in school meal programs.
This resource includes a list of existing state farm to school positions - both in state agencies and in university Extension offices - four state case studies, an analysis of the current landscape of state farm to school positions, and sample job descriptions for some of the positions featured in the resource.
This fact sheet explores opportunities for farm to school practitioners to partner with non-profit hospitals and how hospital can provide resources to support farm to school and foster public health.
The toolkit builds off the successes and safety protocols of five school districts across the United States to provide templates and a step-by-step process to help District Food Services develop their own protocols.
Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development; Libby Christensen, Becca B.R. Jablonski, Lacy Stephens, Anupama Joshi
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December 31, 2018
This paper presents a framework for evaluating the economic impacts of farm-to-school programs, adapting the USDA���s ���Local Food Economics Toolkit��� for this specific context. The approach combines primary and secondary data to customize an input-output model, reflecting the complex supply chains that link producers and schools.
These State Farm to School Profiles (one for every state, DC and the U.S. territories) include a snapshot of state farm to school activities, partnerships, administrative efforts, enacted policies, and federal support for farm to school within the state.
Farm to Keiki is a brand new Farm to School lesson and recipe book written for Hawaii��s teachers and families. The 182 beautiful color pages make it easy to teach children healthy cooking, how to eat locally grown foods, how to grow a garden and about Hawaiis cultures and environment. The recommended age group is for children 3-9 years old.
This study, utilizing results from a 2015 national survey of ECE providers, explores farm to ECE activities in settings serving high proportions of low-income children.
National Farm to School Network & MSU Center for Regional Food Systems
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November 13, 2018
In 2018, the National Farm to School Network and Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems surveyed early care and education providers across the country to better understand current initiatives, motivations and challenges in applying farm to school activities in early care and education settings.
Esta hoja informativa ofrece ideas sobre c??mo puede involucrarse en el dise?�o y la promoci??n de pol??ticas que apoyen de la Finca a la Escuela. [Resource in Spanish]
Servir alimentos locales en comidas y refrigerios es gratificante, pero puede ser desafiante al principio. Aqu?? hay algunas ideas para ayudarle a que el servicio de alimentos locales sea exitoso en su centro. [Resource in Spanish]
Hay muchos tipos diferentes de actividades para proyectos de la finca a la educaci??n temprana. Una opci??n es servir alimentos locales, como frutas, verduras, prote??nas, l?�cteos y granos, en comidas y refrigerios. Aqu?? hay algunas ideas para ayudar a que el servicio de alimentos locales en su hogar sea un ?�xito. [Resource in Spanish]
Esta hoja informativa proporciona informaci??n b?�sica sobre la granja a la escuela y el papel que desempe?�a la Red Nacional de la Finca a la Escuela en el movimiento de la Finca a la escuela. [Resource in Spanish]
The resources is a process guide for planning Native farm-to-school programs, as well as a guide for tribal officials to engage their leadership and create buy-in for the farm-to-school process.
October is National Farm to School Month. This Celebration Toolkit includes background information, activity ideas, communications tools, and a list of resources for implementing Farm to School Month celebrations in your community.
These resource, developed by The Policy Equity Group, align farm to ECE strategies with one of the most widely used ECE curricula���The Creative Curriculum��. The guides explores how teachers can use The Creative Curriculum�� for Preschool and The Creative Curriculum�� for Infants, Toddlers, & Twos as a foundation to embed farm to ECE learning opportunities into their existing practices.
By partnering with a food hub, a school district can significantly increase its local food purchases. This publication provides information from a pilot program used to grow farm to school purchases in northeast Iowa.
A research project conducted in 2014-15 tested the benefits of a partnership between area school districts and the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative's (FFI) Iowa Food Hub - a non-profit food aggregator and distributor. This publication provides information on the project and discusses challenges faced and opportunities available in providing fresh, local foods to Iowa schools.
Incorporating indigenous foods into education and meals in early care and education (ECE) settings offers many benefits, including increasing children���s knowledge of tribal history and food ways and strengthening cultural, spiritual, and social connections in the community.
This webinar is intended to inspire Extension educators who want to make racial equity a more intentional part of their work ��� and an introduction to resources and tools to help do so. Shorlette Ammons of North Carolina���s Center for Environmental Farming Systems introduces webinar participants to tools and language used in racial equity training. This webinar gives an introduction to greater conversations and work surrounding racial equity and food access. This webinar was hosted by the eXtension working group on Undoing Inequality in the Food System which is part of the eXtension Community, Local and Regional Community of Practice, and the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems.
Community Groundworks developed this fact sheet to help early care and education sites promote family engagement and partnership through farm to early care and education activities.
This webinar recording shares different opportunities and avenues to fundraise for farm to school activities at any level. Information is shared about the FarmRaiser fundraising platform, planning for the USDA Farm to School Grant Program application, and fundraising support available from the National Farm to School Network.