Secure the Future of the USDA Farm to School Census — Submit Comments By Friday April 25, 2025
Apr 2025
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is currently seeking public comments that could determine the future of the USDA Farm to School Census. The questions they’ve posed suggest the value of this program is under scrutiny. Now is the time for farm to school and early care supporters to speak up and help protect this crucial resource. Read below to learn more and make your voice heard.
New Edition! State Policy Handbook for Farm to School Supporters
Apr 2025
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.
Statement on FY 25 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Cancellation
Mar 2025
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.
Action Alert! USDA Terminates $660M Program for Local Food in Schools and Child Care
Mar 2025
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.
Farm to School Policy in 2024 and What Comes Next
Dec 2024
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.
Here’s What You Can Do for the Next Round of USDA’s Local Food for Schools (LFS) Funding - Deadline 4/30/2025
Dec 2024
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. Check out this blog to learn more on how you can advocate.
National Farm to School Network Celebrates USDA’s Investment in Local Food Systems
Oct 2024
The National Farm to School Network (NFSN) applauds the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s October 1 announcement to invest $1.7 billion from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to support the purchase of locally and regionally produced foods.
2024 National School Nutrition Association Survey Highlights the Growing Farm to School Trend, Importance of School Meals for All
May 2024
In honor of School Lunch Hero Day, we want to highlight the perspectives of child nutrition professionals who are doing the on-the-ground work of farm to school. As our movement continues to grow, thousands of school nutrition directors recently expressed their plans to buy locally sourced ingredients, incorporate scratch-cooking into their menus, and get students interested in nutrition.
USDA Final Rule on Child Nutrition Program Standards Includes Major Wins for Farm to School
May 2024
On April 25, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the final rule for its updates to the Child Nutrition Program (CNP) standards. This rule will impact meals served in schools and early childhood settings by setting the requirements for important nutrients, meal patterns and types of foods, operations, and purchasing that programs must meet to be reimbursed by USDA.
Graphics That Demonstrate The Mutual Benefits of Farm to School and School Meals for All
Feb 2024
In this article, we aim to showcase a selection of graphics employed by state advocates, highlighting the mutual benefits of farm to school programs and School Meals for All policies. These visuals serve as powerful tools in illustrating the symbiotic relationship between farm to school initiatives and the broader goal of ensuring access to nutritious meals for all students.
Growing Connections for a Better Farm Bill
Feb 2024
In January, NFSN policy staff met in Washington, DC, to participate in the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Winter Meeting and advocacy day. This blog dives into some of the shared priorities we’re amplifying as the Farm Bill reauthorization process continues
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.