• NCRG Monthly Open Office Hours: Wednesday, July 8th, 2-3pm

Noncompetitive Reimbursement Grant (NCRG)

June 30, 2026 marked the halfway point of the 25-27 grant biennium! Claims may be submitted retroactively for eligible items purchased on or after July 1, 2025.

Monthly Open Office Hours: The Farm to CNP team is hosting monthly virtual monthly office hours on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Drop in on Wednesday July 8th between 2-3pm to ask questions and get answers to all things NCRG! 

The office hours can be joined on Zoom via this link: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1618818788

Farm to CNP Fresh Facts: What does "Minimally Processed" mean?

Minimally processed foods are foods that retain their inherent character and have only undergone basic preparation such as washing, cutting, peeling, freezing, drying, or packaging.

When purchasing food that was produced outside of Oregon, remember that it must be more than minimally processed to be eligible for reimbursement through the Farm to CNP Reimbursement Grants. For an out-of-state food item to be eligible, it must be transformed beyond those basic processes.

Some examples eligible for reimbursement may include:

• Jam processed in Oregon using Washington-grown fruit
• Flour milled in Oregon using Kansas-grown grains
• Yogurt made in Oregon using milk from Idaho cows

When in doubt, ask: Has the product been substantially changed from its original agricultural form, or has it only been prepared for storage, transport, or sale? Or reach out to the Farm to CNP team for clarification!

Competitive Reimbursement Grant

The Competitive Reimbursement Grant (CRG) provides eligible grantees with additional funding beyond their Noncompetitive Reimbursement Grant awards. To be eligible, applicants must have received a Farm to CNP Noncompetitive Reimbursement Grant award and fully expended those funds.

Update: 2025-2027 biennium applications are expected to open in summer 2026. Announcements about CRG applications will be communicated via listserv.

Education Grant

The application period for the 2025–2027 Education Grant RFA is closed. Thank you to all who submitted applications and to the volunteer scorers. Grant award notifications were sent to all grantees on March 4th, 2026. Learn more about the 76 grantees of the 25-27 Farm to CNP Education Grant on the Farm to CNP Ed grant webpage.

General Information about this grant program can be found on the Education Grant webpage.

FARM TO SCHOOL PODCAST

New Episodes: There are new episodes of the Farm to School Podcast! Check out the latest Farm to School Podcast episodes below!

What do scratch cooking, workforce development, local ketchup, and a mysterious conference hall ice machine have in common? In this episode, recorded live(ish) from the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference, hear Patrick Garmong of the Institute of Child Nutrition talk about the real work behind getting good food onto kids’ trays—training the people who make it happen. From ditching the “white hat chef” mentality to meeting school food professionals exactly where they are, this conversation is equal parts big picture vision, practical knife skills, and genuine laughs. Pull up a tray—no chef hat required.

You can listen to the episode here.

What happens when curiosity meets crunchy, colorful produce in the classroom? From curious kids tasting kiwi berries and (sometimes too-spicy) peppers to a behind-the-scenes look at the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, connect the dots between school snacks, farmer livelihoods, and big-picture health outcomes, all through the lens of SnackTime Explorers—a program turning everyday tastings into powerful moments of discovery. Get ready for stories that are equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and a reminder that sometimes the smallest bites can spark the biggest change.

You can listen to the episode here.

The Oregon Harvest for Schools Award honors Oregon's farm to school community – the growers, educators, food service professionals and advocates who bring innovation and dedication to connecting children with Oregon-grown food. These champions cultivate lasting change by enriching student education and strengthening local food systems. This award celebrates their vision and commitment to ensuring that Oregon's next generation grows up with healthy meals, meaningful food education, and a deeper connection to land and people who feed them.  

Nominations for the Oregon Harvest for Schools Awards are now closed! Winners will be announced Fall 2026

The Chef Ann Foundation's Salad Bars to Schools (SB2S) grants K–12 schools everything needed to install a salad bar including salad bar equipment and all accessories, marketing materials, and comprehensive online training courses through the School Food Institute.
Open to K-12 school districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program with an enrollment of at least 100 students per school site. Learn more here.

Application deadline: March 31, 2027.

The Farm-Based Education Network is hosting an open hour for anyone in farm-based education to join a Google Meet with FBEN coordinator Vera Simon-Nobes. Whether you’re joining from an office chair, tractor seat, or pasture, you’re invited to “stop in” and say hello or bring a suggestion or resource to the conversation.

July 16 | 11–11:45 pm PST (Virtual): No registration required. Join the call.

Congratulations to Brynn Richardson of David Douglas School District for being honored by the Newman's Own Foundation as a 2026 School Lunch Hero!

To read the full list of recipients and program details, visit the Newman’s Own Foundation 2026 School Lunch Heroes Announcement.

Save the date: Thursday, October 22nd is the Oregon Crunch at Once!

Join thousands of Oregon students in a joyful, synchronized crunch celebrating local foods and agriculture education!

Learn more and pre-register on the Oregon Farm to School Network website.