 Congratulations 2019 Farm to School Grantees!
Congratulations 2019 Farm to School Grantees! More than 9 Million in Grants Will Support Local Food in Child Nutrition Programs
The Office of Community Food Systems (OCFS) congratulates all of the 2019 Farm to School Grant recipients! USDA’s Farm to School Grants fund school districts, State and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers, and non-profit organizations in their efforts to increase local foods served through child nutrition programs, teach children about food and agriculture through garden and classroom education, and develop schools’ and farmers’ capacities to participate in farm to school activities.
For the 2019 – 2020 school year, 126 grants, totaling more than $9 million, will serve more than 5,400 schools and 3.2 million students, and 63 percent of whom are eligible for free, or reduced-price, meals. Examples of funded projects include:
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The Louisiana Department of Education intends to bolster existing Louisiana Farm to School activities and develop the Seeds to Success! Program. This program will guide schools in curriculum planning and the promotion of lifetime involvement in agriculture.
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The Parma City School District (Ohio) will build and implement healthy farm to table programming throughout the community through collaboration with all district programs, such as Career Technical Education, Special Education, and Nutrition Services.
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Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma will develop a partnership with Miami Public Schools to facilitate the introduction and regular incorporation of locally raised bison meat into the student lunch program.
For a complete list of 2019 recipients, please see the FY2019 Farm to School List of Awardees.
Everyone wins with Farm to School!
Farm to school gives schools and school districts local control and flexibility to offer seasonally available, regionally-produced foods on their menu, often sourced directly from local farmers.
Farm to school benefits students, teachers, parents, and producers. Connecting communities to their local farmers, ranchers and fishers builds stronger ties to the community and a culture of appreciation for those who care for our land.
Farm to school introduces students to agriculture career paths. Our nation’s food supply depends on more young people entering the field of agriculture. Farm to school inspires young people to consider careers in agriculture and food systems.
USDA has invested more than $39 million in 563 farm to school projects since the program began in 2013. The projects span all 50 States, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. OCFS looks forward to seeing what the 2019 crop of grantees will accomplish.
2020 Farm to School Grants Program Announcement Coming Soon!
FNS plans to release the Requests for Applications (RFA) for the FY2020 Farm to School Grants Program in the fall. The additional funding will help reach more communities seeking to incorporate local products into school meals, integrate agricultural education in the classroom, and cultivate and expand farm to school efforts. Stay tuned for the latest updates on the next Farm to School Grant RFA.
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