Local Food Purchasing Incentives: State Program Flash Talks
Aug 2023
Join NFSN for a two-part webinar series that explores ten different local food purchasing incentives across the nation! Registration details included.
National Farm to School Network Announces 2023 Farm Bill Policy Priorities
Jun 2023
National Farm to School Network (NFSN) is proud to announce its policy priorities for the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill. The House Committee on Agriculture is taking public input on the Farm Bill through June 9, 2023.
Advocates Push Pennsylvania to Continue Free Breakfast for School Children and Consider Universal School Meal Bill
Apr 2023
[Harrisburg, PA] - On May 1, a group of school meals advocates will gather at the Pennsylvania State Capitol to call for the continuation of free breakfast for Pennsylvania school children and to urge the state to consider a new bill for universal school meals including lunch.
USDA Proposed Rule Change to Expand the Community Eligibility Provision — What It Is and Why You Should Take Action (Deadline: May 8, 2023)
Apr 2023
On March 23, 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA) proposed a rule change to dramatically expand child access to school meals. They propose to lower the threshold that schools have to meet to qualify for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a federal program that enables eligible schools to serve free meals to all students.
NFSN Urges the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to Center Equity in the New Evaluation Framework
Apr 2023
NFSN understands that evaluation is an integral part of program and policy development, implementation, and sustainability–and when conducted with equity in mind, it has the power to cultivate community empowerment. We have submitted comments to the CDC urging for racial and social equity principles to be embedded in the new iteration of the evaluation framework.
USDA Child Nutrition Program Rule Proposals — What are They and Why Should You Take Action? (Deadline: Extended to May 10, 2023)
Apr 2023
On February 7, 2023, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced proposed rule changes to its child nutrition program standards. This will have a huge impact on school, after-school, and early child care meal programs.
NFSN Lauds Hopeful Investments in Child Nutrition Through the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act
Jul 2022
On July 20, the House Committee on Education and Labor introduced the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act, a package of legislation that would reauthorize and improve the largest child nutrition programs that support over 30 million kids every year. National Farm to School Network is pleased that this comprehensive legislation champions many key priorities for farm to school and farm to early care...
NFSN’s Comments on Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Proposed Scientific Questions
Jun 2022
In April, the US Department of Health and Human Services published its proposed list of scientific questions for the next update of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The DGA, reviewed and updated every five years, provides the foundation for the federal government’s recommendations to the public about eating patterns that lead to better health outcomes.
Opinion: Congress Should Act Now to Extend School Food Waivers
May 2022
Millions of American children could go hungry this summer unless Congress acts soon. That’s because an end looms on June 30 for a series of special COVID-era waivers. Among other things, they allow schools to serve free meals to all students. But eliminating the waivers risks more than hunger, it also jeopardizes other gains made in child nutrition programs under the waivers.
Health and Economic Gains of School Meals at Risk as Child Nutrition Program Waivers Expire
Mar 2022
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress granted the USDA the authority to issue child nutrition waivers, which have given schools the funding & resources necessary to keep school meals programs afloat & provide free meals to an additional 10 million students each day. We were deeply disappointed to hear that Congress passed an omnibus spending bill that does not extend these waivers.