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Fall is always an exciting time of year: the leaves are changing, kids are back in school, and USDA has several funding opportunities available. Check out these three grants that can support your community food systems efforts.
Farm to School Grant Program
The purpose of the USDA Farm to School Grant Program is to assist
eligible entities in implementing farm to school programs that improve
access to local foods in eligible schools. On an annual basis, USDA
awards up to $5 million in competitive grants for training, supporting
operations, planning, purchasing equipment, developing school gardens,
developing partnerships, and implementing farm to school programs.
Visit our grant opportunities page
to review the RFA for complete application instructions, frequently
asked questions (FAQ), and additional application support materials. Check out the grant program page for an overview of past grantees, program summary reports, and more.
Closing
Date: Thursday, December 8, 2016
Community Food Projects (CFP)
Competitive Grants Program
The primary goals of the CFP are to: Meet the food needs of low-income
individuals through food distribution, community outreach to assist in
participation in Federally assisted nutrition programs, or improving access to
food as part of a comprehensive service; Increase the self-reliance of
communities in providing for the food needs of the communities; and, promote
comprehensive responses to local food access, farm, and nutrition issues;
Farm to school example: Jones Valley Urban Farm partners with Birmingham City Schools to improve students' understanding of core subjects through food and
nutrition-based education including science, math, engineering, and English language arts.
Closing
Date: Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Beginning Farmer and Rancher
Development Program (BFRDP)
The 2008 and 2014 Farm Bills showed renewed interest in beginning farmer and rancher programs
because of the rising average age of U.S. farmers, the 8% projected decrease in the
number of farmers and ranchers between 2008 and 2018, and the growing
recognition that new programs are needed to address the needs of the next
generation of beginning farmers and ranchers.
Farm to school example: The Minnesota Food Association trains socially disadvantaged and immigrant farmers in rural Minnesota and Western Wisconsin on operating vegetable farms, direct marketing to CSA and farmers markets and wholesale distribution to hospitals, schools, and other institutions.
Closing Date: Thursday, December
8, 2016
 Explore your eligibility for other USDA grants & loans using this tool.
Change Beyond the Plate
School Food Focus
2016 National Gathering, Change Beyond the Plate is December 6-8 in Braselton, GA.
School Food Focus is a national collaborative that ignites change in our food
system by working on both the demand and supply sides of school food. Together,
we're changing the way school food is produced and purchased so that every
child in the U.S. - regardless of income or race - has access to delicious,
nutritious school meals.
Now in its sixth year, the National Gathering is a
unique space for attendees to share innovative procurement strategies, connect
with supply chain leaders and strengthen the school food movement.
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Wednesday, October 26, 2016 2:00 – 3:15 PM ET
In celebration of National Farm to School Month,
join SNA to learn about resources from USDA’s Office of Community Food
Systems and how farm to school strategies can boost participation,
reduce food waste, and increase consumption of fruits and vegetables.
This webinar will showcase Doug Davis and Sarah Heusner from Burlington School Food Project and Alex Emmott from Oakland Unified School District. We’ll also highlight small ways you can jump in.
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Andrea
Northup, Farm to School Regional Lead, USDA Food and Nutrition Service,
Mountain Plains Regional Office and Anjali Budhiraja, Public Affairs
Specialist, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Mountain Plains Regional
Office
From locally-raised yak burgers to school garden-grown zucchini,
Colorado schools kicked off the school year with farm to school gusto!
On September 14, an estimated 550 schools reaching 160,700 students
celebrated Colorado Proud School Meal Day by featuring fresh, locally-grown food in their school meals. The annual event is organized by Colorado Proud, a program to promote local foods through the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
Students from the public Denver Green School
celebrated with special guests including Food, Nutrition and Consumer
Services Deputy Under Secretary Katie Wilson and Denver Mayor Michael B.
Hancock. Guests joined students for a delicious school lunch featuring
homegrown zucchini, onions, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes. Students
voiced their excitement for the fresh food, and guests headed outside to
the school farm where the produce was grown.
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