Introduction

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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. 

At our Partner Annual Meeting in Minneapolis this August, we read poet Marge Piercy’s admonition to: 

“Fight persistently as the creeper that brings down the tree.

Spread like the squash plant that overruns the garden.” 

Across the country, the results of November’s election will shape the opportunities and challenges in front of us in 2025. As we work together to protect our progress and continue to improve how these programs work for everyone – especially new ones that are in the process of being implemented – it’s imperative to celebrate the success we have had. 

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Federal Policy

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This year was filled with bright spots in federal policy, even as some major legislative items, such as the Farm Bill and Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025, remain unfinished. 

USDA released its Final Rule on Child Nutrition Program Standards which include major wins for farm to school

• Geographic Preference in Local Purchasing: Child nutrition programs will now be able to use “locally grown,” “locally raised,” or “locally caught” as a specification requirement for fresh and minimally processed food items. This is a longtime policy priority of NFSN and we are delighted to realize this change! It simplifies the geographic preference process for child nutrition programs, making it easier to purchase local foods. Read more on NFSN’s blog.
• Native Foods: USDA strengthens its previous guidance that traditional Indigenous foods may be served in reimbursable school meals by including it in this rule. This gives programs more certainty that they can incorporate these products. It also finalizes the proposal to allow vegetable substitution for grains in programs serving American Indian or Alaska Native students, and in Guam and Hawai’i.  
  Read more on NFSN’s blog.

Historic awards for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program
In July, USDA announced its latest round of awards for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant. $14.7 million was awarded to 154 projects in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. This round of funding allowed the Patrick Leahy Farm to School grant to exceed $100 million in funding since 2013. In November, NFSN released a retrospective report and interactive dashboard, visually summarizing the impact of the program, and celebrating over a decade of implementation. View these resources here.

Pressure increases to target federal funding
After Congress addresses a funding extension to keep the federal government open beyond December 20, it must still pass final funding for Fiscal Year 2025 – and the process for FY 2026 will begin again in February! Farm to school advocates must press for the highest possible funding level to support farm to school in this difficult funding environment. 

USDA invests $1.2 billion for local foods in farm to school and ECE settings
In December, USDA released the new request for applications for the second round of the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program to support the purchase of locally and regionally produced foods. This investment from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) builds on the success of the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, which initially received $200 million, by adding $471.5 million for K-12 schools and a first-ever $188.6 million for early care and education (ECE) settings. Read NFSN’s December 11 blog post about this new round and find tools for advocates to get involved.

USDA launches 2023 Farm to School Census results
In October, USDA shared that 74,433 schools with 45.6 million students, representing 74.1% of school food authorities across the country, reported participating in farm to school activities in the 2022-23 school year. Collectively, these schools spent an estimated $1.8 billion on local food. These results mark a 10.5% increase in school participation from the 2019 census, and a 75% increase from the 2015 census. View the census results here.

Federal School Meals for All bills continue to be introduced
In 2024, two key Senate bills were introduced to help streamline access and increase participation for eligible schools in the National school lunch and breakfast programs. The Nutrition Red Tape Reduction Act (S.4523) expands eligibility for the Community Eligibility Program, while the School Hunger Elimination Act (S.4525) takes further steps to improve access and efficiency of the program, as well as providing funding to encourage participation in CEP. 

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At the State Level

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Last year in 2023, just over 50 bills related to farm to school passed, including some bills that combined School Meals for All and farm to school. While more wins occurred in 2024, there was more focus on implementation of the many state and federal programs established in recent years.

USDA State Farm to School Formula Grant and Local Food for Schools (LFS) implementation take root
While these federal programs are administered by USDA, the designs of these programs and implementation are up to state-level agencies (see NFSN’s LFS Program Matrix here). LFS began in 2022, but many states were still administering their programs in 2024. The incredible popularity of this program led to USDA announcing a second round. This year, NFSN hosted several webinar spotlights to highlight innovative LFS models, and has engaged in a collaboration with Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic to research models, develop case studies, and identify an advocacy strategy for a permanent federal program. Looking forward, NFSN will support state-level advocates and agency officials as the second round of funding unfolds.

2024 wins for farm to school
All existing local food purchasing programs secured funding for another year, with many programs continuing to grow (Alabama’s incentive grew from $120,000 in 2020 to $550,000 in 2024!) Connecticut launched the first year of its state-funded Local Food for Schools Incentive Program, a continuation of the federal LFS program. New Hampshire and Iowa also passed pilot local food purchasing incentive programs, with New Jersey’s LFPI bill passing out of committee on December 12, 2024! Some states established commissions, with Pennsylvania establishing a Commission for Agricultural Education Excellence and Virginia establishing a Farm to School Task Force within the Department of Education.  

Innovative bills that didn’t quite make it through the finish line
Hawai‘i proposed a recognition program for schools working toward 30% local food purchasing by 2030 and increasing the small purchase threshold for local foods. Other legislation to support local procurement included Oklahoma’s Local Food for Schools Revolving Fund, with Massachusetts, Pennsylvania proposing similar incentive programs. Oklahoma and Wisconsin introduced grant programs to support farm to school efforts, while Arizona focused on school garden grants. Minnesota sought funding for regional farm to institution coordinators, and New York reintroduced a youth in agriculture summer employment program for the second time, which would prioritize historically underserved groups, such as youth of color, children of migrant workers, and youth whose families make below 150% of the poverty level. On the early childcare and education side, Kentucky proposed incorporating “outdoor nature-based child care” into state regulations. Although these bills did not pass, they underscore a growing commitment to strengthening local food systems and farm to school programs.

A year of healthy school meals for all implementation
In 2024, eight states representing over 20% of the US children implemented school meals for all (universal meals) policies. Additional states (OR, NY, WA) have policies that allow a vast majority of students in the state to enjoy no cost school meals. The popularity of school meals for all policies has led to budget shortfalls causing concern for some advocates, but this is the result of the resounding success of these programs, with record meal participation and more kids being fed nourishing meals at school (see MA’s Terrific Trays program). In July, NFSN began a community of practice for child nutrition professionals, agency staff, and advocates in the eight states with permanent policies. 
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While no additional school meals for all policies were passed in 2024, many states passed incremental bills to increase access to school meals (VA, DE, AZ, OK, MD). NFSN has been supporting six state coalitions in pursuit of values-aligned policies to expand school meal access. These coalitions are building grassroots support and combining farm to school in their advocacy to push school meals for all legislation forward in their communities.

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The Year Ahead

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Make sure your state/territory applies for Local Food for Schools funding
The deadline for the next round of LFS cooperative agreements is April 30, 2025. Now is the time to connect with farm to school champions in your area and inform what this next round will look like. Read NFSN’s December 11 blog post about this new round and find tools for advocates to get involved.

New presidential administration, new legislative leaders
In the year ahead, NFSN aims to work together with Partners to strengthen and forge new federal Congressional relationships. With tight margins expected in both chambers, the new Congress presents an opportunity to engage strategically with key federal legislators on relevant House and Senate committees, educating them on how farm to school and related policies impact communities in their district and state. More than 60 new House members are headed to Washington this January, as well as twelve incoming Senators. New legislators may be looking for issues to champion and are an important audience to educate on the benefits of farm to school in their district.

Highlighting and Protecting State Innovations
Attention will turn to state governments as they maintain their priorities in the changing federal landscape. States that have implemented innovative and robust farm to school policies will need to highlight program accomplishments and protect this investment. Moreover, state legislators on both sides of the aisle will be interpreting the 2024 election results for their own takeaways on how their policies can speak to voters.

Farm to School Act
As a result of the 2024 election, two original sponsors of the 2023 Farm to School Act lost reelection. NFSN will seek a new Republican sponsor in the House to replace Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19), and in the Senate, a new Democratic sponsor to replace Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH). Once new sponsors are identified and confirmed, NFSN will work with our new and existing legislative champions to reintroduce the Farm to School Act in the upcoming Congress.

Farm Bill
With a December 31 deadline looming, lawmakers remain in heated negotiations over a deal to extend the current 2018 farm bill for a second time, punting the responsibility of passing a new farm bill to the next Congress. NFSN remains committed to our Farm Bill policy priorities that reflect support for policy changes within our core sphere of expertise, and wider spheres where we can stand in solidarity with calls to shift the economic, cultural, and decision-making power governing our food system.

Potential Child Nutrition Reauthorization Attempt in 2025
The last reauthorization of omnibus child nutrition legislation, the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, is almost ten years overdue for renewal. It remains to be seen whether the 119th Congress will take up this package – we are eager to build on the amazing progress in child nutrition since 2010, but also stand ready to defend the strength of these programs from potential attempts to reduce funding or access. 

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Upcoming Resources and Actions from NFSN

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See you at the National National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
The 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference is officially scheduled for June 3-6, 2025 in Albuquerque, NM! Hosted by NFSN, this biennial event (not hosted since 2018 due to the pandemic) will convene hundreds of movement leaders working to source local food for institutional cafeterias and foster a culture of healthy food and agricultural literacy across America. There will be opportunities for networking and peer learning among policy advocates at all levels – you won’t want to miss it. View our webpage here.

‍Releasing new edition of the State Policy Handbook, continued bill tracking
In February, NFSN and collaborators at Vermont Law School will release the new Handbook edition, designed to analyze and provide an overview of over two decades of legislation. This edition will include bills from 2021-2023, and unveil a new interactive database of bills, and offer additional insights on bills that expand school meals access, support workers’ rights, and provide funding for kitchen equipment and infrastructure in addition to farm to school bills. NFSN staff and law student researchers will continue to review 2025 bills in real time to provide advocates with the most up to date information on the current legislative session. Review the 2021 Handbook edition here.

Policy programs you won’t want to miss

• Continuing Quarterly State Policy Roundtables and Policy Office Hours
• Continuing support for School Meals for All implementing states and active coalitions 
• Topics to address in webinars and huddles:
  • The State of Local Food Purchasing Incentives - webinar - January 9th [Register here]
  • Local Food for Schools Advocacy Huddles
  • Advocacy trainings for different experience levels
  • Time to Eat bills
  • Revisiting Cash in Lieu 
  • USDA’s Expanded Geographic Preference After One Year
• New resources on the horizon
  • USDA Local Food for Schools Program Research Project (report)
  • Centering Youth in School Meals for All Advocacy (brief)
  • Framing budgets for School Meals for All Policies (brief)
  • Pathways for Values-Aligned Universal Meals (report)
  • Policy Spotlight: Regional Farm to School Coordinators (brief)

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In Case You Missed It: NFSN Policy Resources from 2024

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• Healthy School Meals for All
  • Youth Engagement in School Meals for All Advocacy [webinar]
  • Transforming School Meals: How School Meals for All Policies Can Drive Food System Change [webinar]
  • How School Meals for All Can Improve Meal Quality and Put Local Food on the Menu [brief] 
  • Meal Participation Continues to Rise in States After Two Years of Healthy School Meals for All [brief]
  • Graphics That Demonstrate The Mutual Benefits of Farm to School and School Meals for All [blog] ‍
• ‍For more resources, see NFSN’s Full Values Aligned Universal School Meals Resource Compilation

• Local Food Purchasing Incentives
  Visit NFSN’s new LFPIs web page for an updated map of state programs and a comprehensive hub of resources, including state-level evaluations and a suite of resources developed by NFSN and the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems in 2024. Resources include:
  • An Introduction to Incentives
  • The Benefits of Local Food Purchasing Incentives
  • State-Level Policies to Support Farm to School Local Food Purchasing Since 2020 
  • Program Administration
  • Program Development Considerations & Team Planning Guide
  • Expanded Local Food Purchasing Incentives: Programs that Reimburse More than Food 
  • Incorporating Additional Values into Incentive Programs 
  • Farmer-Focused Incentives: What if States Funded Farmers to Sell to Schools?
  • How the Designs of Local Food Purchasing Incentives Affect Spending on Local Food
• Farm to ECE Local Food Purchasing Incentive Flash Talk Series, co-hosted with ASPHN [webinar - Part 1 and Part 2] 

• Other Farm to School Policy Resources
  • What is Values-Based Purchasing? [brief] 
  • Farm to School Grants for Producers [spotlight] 
  • FoodTrails: Rhode Island's Pilot Local Food Tracking Software for Schools [webinar] 

• Farm to School Act of 2023 [fact sheet]

• $100 Million for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant some text
  • Report and Interactive Dashboard

• Local Food for Schools
  • LFS Program Matrix ‍
  • Webinar spotlights on Utah and Vermont’s farmer-focused LFS models

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. Tribal governments are ineligible for LFS, but can apply for Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) funds.

$660 Million on the table: Over the next three years, agencies will have $471.5 million for K-12 schools and $188.6 million for early care and education (ECE) settings to purchase local food. This funding will be transformative for local food systems, prioritizing Historically Underserved producers, farmers, fishers, and small businesses.

There will be one agreement per state with a single agency lead, and two distinct buckets of money: There will be funding for schools and separate funding for ECE facilities (awards on p. 10). For the first time, dedicated funding is available for ECE programs through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) (excluding adults) opening the door for significant and sustained growth of Farm to ECE. 

Similar to the first round, there are still no funds for administration: States may leverage other funding sources such as the Farm to School State Formula Grants, Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants (deadline January 10th), or another source to aid with administration costs - See the Farm to ECE Federal Funding Guide. Agencies can also strategically design their programs to reduce administrative burden (see Program Matrix). 

‍> See the Request for Applications here

> Review Q&A, Presentation Notes, and Recording from USDA 12/10/24 presentation

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How You Can Support This Effort Right Now

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1. Urge Your State Agency to Participate

• Make Contact: The most important thing advocates can do right now is to reach out to your state agency and let them know that participation in this program is important to you. Agencies do not have to accept funding for ECEs if they are accepting funding for schools and vice versa.
  • Note: Agencies that don't deal with ECEs will need to either a) figure out who has the skill set/capacity in their state and then b) determine whether to set up an MOU or subaward. Advocates can help make these connections.
• Share Your Experience: If you benefited from the first round of LFS, share your story with agency staff to highlight the program's value for your school, farm, or community.

2. Provide Input on Program Design

• Share Feedback: If you have insights from the first round, offer suggestions on what worked and what could improve.
• Suggest Models or Design Features: States used a range of implementation models in Round 1. If you have a preferred model or approach, share it with your state agency.See the section below for more information about program models. 
  
  If you have distributed local foods to ECEs or have a distribution plan to ECEs share that with your state agencies. Start collaborating to help build a plan for ECEs.
  
  Note: The most important step is for states to submit a cooperative agreement application before the deadline. In the first round, many agencies adjusted their program models during the project period to better fit their state’s needs and administrative capacity. NFSN expects USDA will allow similar flexibility in this round, providing opportunities to refine programs as they roll out.

3. Spread the word

• Amplify the Call: Share this opportunity with your network and encourage others to get involved. More voices mean stronger advocacy for equitable, effective program design.

Tools & Resources for Advocates

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LFS Program Profiles & Case Studies 

Developed by the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic with guidance from NFSN

LFS Program Matrix: This matrix provides state LFS profiles, including:

• Round 1 and 2 funding awards
• State agency contacts
• Round 1 program descriptions, program model types, and unique features
• Links to implementation resources 
• Reports and stories on program outcomes

Note: This matrix was released early to align with USDA’s funding announcement, and will continue to evolve. Check back periodically for updates.

Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program (LFPA) Implementation Stories from the Wallace Center

• State Spotlights: Learn from LFPA state experiences in IA, OR, OH, MI, RI, VA, CA, and NM.
• Report & Webinar: Check out Wallace Center's 2023 report and webinar on LFPA’s initial outcomes, opportunities, and recommendations

Equity in LFS & LFPA

Operationalizing Equity: See how state agencies are advancing equity through program design in LFS and LFPA, as documented by the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems (October 2023)

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Stay Connected with NFSN

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NFSN will host additional programming in January 2025. Stay tuned for event details. NFSN will continue to share updates about USDA presentations via its Partner listserv and This Week newsletter. Need more guidance? Contact NFSN Policy Specialist Cassandra Bull (Cassandra@farmtoschool.org) for support on program design, state incentives, and more.

Together, we can leverage this federal funding to support our kids, farms, and communities, and make a real impact for historically underserved local farmers, fishers, and ranchers.

By Ananya Kumar, Communications Intern 

At Edible Schoolyard New Orleans (ESYNOLA), a signature program of FirstLine Schools, farm to school programming goes beyond growing food—it connects students to the rich agricultural and culinary heritage of New Orleans and Louisiana. One of the most cherished traditions at Edible Schoolyard New Orleans is Watermelon Day, a celebration that has been going strong for nearly 20 years.

The Origins of Watermelon Day
When ESYNOLA was founded in 2006, one main goal was to create meaningful “edible” experiences for students, experiences that would connect them with local farmers, chefs, and gardeners. This led to the birth of Meet the Farmer events, where students could meet the people responsible for growing the food they were tasting. Watermelon Day, along with Citrus Day and Strawberry Day, was part of the original lineup of these seasonal events.

From the beginning, Ben Burkett, a fifth-generation farmer and organizer of the Indian Springs Farmers Association, has been growing and delivering watermelons for Watermelon Day. Ben’s cooperative is one of the oldest Black-founded farming cooperatives in the U.S., and he, along with his daughter Darnella, has been a beloved guest at Edible Schoolyard’s FirstLine schools for 16 years. Every year, they grow between 50-100 watermelons specifically for this event.

A Day Full of Joy, Learning, and Tradition
Watermelon Day was held on September 20th this year, filled with arts and crafts, tastings, games, and other exciting festivities. At ESYNOLA’s flagship school, Samuel J. Green, the farmers delivered watermelons directly to the students, who eagerly awaited the chance to meet the people growing their favorite summer treat.

Each year, students learn about the origins of watermelons and the life and work of Farmer Ben. As part of the day’s activities, students make watermelon crowns, read stories about the history of watermelons, and participate in Q&A sessions with the farmers. One of the most touching moments in recent years was when a student, after meeting Farmer Ben, remarked, “Farmer Ben looks like my ancestors,” underscoring the deep cultural connections this event fosters.

Watermelon Day traditions also include making watermelon-based treats like Agua Fresca and smoothies, and engaging in the ever-popular watermelon seed spitting contest, where students (and sometimes staff) see who can spit their seeds the farthest. These activities bring joy, laughter, and a sense of community to everyone involved.

Meet the Farmer: Building Connections
The goal of Watermelon Day and other Meet the Farmer events is to build meaningful connections between students and the local food system. For ESYNOLA, it’s important that students see the faces behind their food. Farmer Ben’s visits go beyond the fun of tasting watermelon—they give students a chance to ask thoughtful questions about farming, food production, and the challenges of working with the land. Students often ask Ben how much farmers earn, what other crops they grow, and what inspired him to pursue farming. This dialogue helps students build a deeper understanding of the food they eat and the people who grow it.

ESYNOLA’s founders wanted these events to help students appreciate local produce, and that’s exactly what has happened. In fact, Watermelon Day has become so ingrained in the FirstLine Schools’ culture that students look forward to it year after year, building lasting memories tied to this sweet summer fruit. As part of the larger farm to school curriculum, Watermelon Day also reinforces the hands-on gardening and cooking lessons that are a daily part of the students’ education.

Expanding the Tradition: Other Seasonal Events
Watermelon Day isn’t the only event that connects students with local farmers. ESYNOLA also hosts other seasonal events like Citrus Day and Strawberry Day, all of which highlight the importance of local agriculture and allow students to engage with fresh, seasonal produce.

Another standout event at ESYNOLA is the annual Sweet Potato Fest, held in October. This event, primarily hosted at Arthur Ashe School, celebrates the harvest of hundreds of pounds of sweet potatoes from school gardens. The festival includes a community parade featuring the school’s marching band and majorette team, cooking competitions with students, families, and local professionals, and traditional festival activities like potato sack racing and face painting. With over 300 attendees, it’s a major event that brings the community together to celebrate local food.

The sweet potato harvest is impressive—Arthur Ashe alone produces 300 pounds each year, while the other schools harvest about 100 pounds each. The festival also features gumbo made by our food service provider, Chartwells, and sweet potato stew, along with games, a bike blender, and dance performances.

Looking Ahead: The Legacy of Watermelon Day
Watermelon Day at ESY NOLA is a day filled with joy, learning, and cultural connection. Events like Watermelon Day create lasting impressions on students, helping them understand the importance of local agriculture and the people behind the food they eat. With nearly 20 years of tradition behind it, Watermelon Day will continue to be a celebration of local food, culture, and connection for years to come.

Special thank you to Charlotte Steele, Director of ESYNOLA for speaking with us about the wonderful work her and her team do to make farm to school programming so meaningful and engaging! 

By: Ananya Kumar, Communications Intern

As part of our ongoing series for National Farm to School Month, we had the pleasure of speaking with Kyle Foley, Sustainable Seafood Director at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI). Based in Portland, Maine, GMRI is an independent nonprofit focused on developing and delivering collaborative  solutions to global ocean challenges, including ecosystem health, a thriving blue economy, and seafood sustainability. Kyle shared insights about their sea to school work and its vital role in connecting students with fresh, local seafood.

Sustainability Meets School Meals
Kyle explained that the sea to school program fits seamlessly into GMRI’s sustainability initiatives. With a regional focus on the Gulf of Maine, their seafood work spans most of New England. The program aims to build demand for locally sourced seafood, especially lesser-known types of ground fish like hake, pollock, and redfish, in contrast to the well-known species like cod and haddock. All of these types of flakey white fish are a perfect fit for institutional settings like schools. According to Kyle, there’s often a misconception that there’s plenty of local seafood already available in the region, but the industry is more complex than people realize.

“Just like the farming industry has its different sectors—beef, dairy, produce—seafood is similarly diverse,” Kyle noted. “Some parts of our seafood sector can compete in the global marketplace, but local ground fish have a tough time competing with inexpensive, readily available fish from other parts of the world. Building demand for a wider variety of local species isn’t just good for the ecosystem; it’s also essential for the fishermen’s livelihoods.”

"Building demand for a wider variety of local species isn’t just good for the ecosystem; it’s also essential for the fishermen’s livelihoods.” — Kyle Foley, Gulf of Maine Research Institute

One of the most exciting aspects of their work is the focus on increasing awareness of the full suite of species available in the Gulf of Maine. Working with schools to build demand for a broader range of seafood helps to sustain the region’s resources by harvesting what the ocean has to offer in a responsible way, instead of over-extracting one species. It also provides fishermen a more diverse portfolio of fish they can profit from, and students who are able to eat different types of fish for school meals benefit from healthy protein and a broader range of vitamins and minerals. Just like farm to school, the sea to school work that GMRI leads in the Gulf of Maine is a triple win for students, fishermen, and the wider ecosystem. 

Bringing Local Fish to Schools
GMRI’s approach to getting seafood into schools is thoughtful and community-focused. While direct connections between fishermen and schools aren’t always feasible due to the need for processing, Kyle and her team work to connect school districts with local seafood processors to bridge that gap. They also collaborate with organizations like the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, whose "Fisherman Feeding Mainers" program, which started during the pandemic, funnels donated seafood into cafeterias.

Taste tests have been a key strategy in introducing seafood to students and food service staff. "We’ve found that students are overwhelmingly positive when they try seafood," Kyle said. "There can be initial skepticism from food service teams, but after numerous taste tests, we’ve seen around 70% of students who participate in taste tests loving the fish!"

Kyle emphasized that the success of sea to school initiatives often depends on food service staff being excited about the program. To support this, part of GMRI’s work focuses on providing training for school nutrition teams, ensuring they feel confident in preparing and serving seafood dishes. In May 2024, GMRI was awarded as one of the eight recipients of the Partnerships for Local Agriculture and Nutrition Transformation in Schools (PLANTS) grant. Through this grant, GMRI is currently working with the South Portland Public School District to provide extensive training and promote enthusiasm among the food service staff, which in turn will positively engage the students. They are also continuing to partner with the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association to strengthen the local supply chain and support market opportunities for local fishing operations to partner with schools. 

Culturally Relevant Recipes for a Diverse Student Body
A standout project for GMRI has been the development of culturally diverse seafood recipes with local immigrant chefs, made possible by the 2022 New England Food Vision Prize from the Henry P. Kendall Foundation. The goal was to create dishes that resonate with the growing immigrant communities in Maine. "Many immigrant communities consume more seafood than the average American," Kyle explained. "We wanted to tap into these mutually beneficial connections by bringing flavors from home into school cafeterias."

These recipes, like a coconut lime redfish developed by Khadija Ahmed (food justice activist and chef) and a Cambodian-inspired dish developed by a mother-daughter chef duo, have been hugely popular with students. Not only do they provide a taste of home for some students, but they also introduce others to new, exciting flavors beyond traditional New England seafood recipes.

Looking Back: A Decade of Progress
Kyle has been at GMRI for over 11 years, and during that time, she’s seen incredible progress in the integration of seafood into schools. What started with a focus on colleges has expanded to K-12 institutions, thanks to increased recognition of seafood’s importance to both local ecosystems and educational programs.

Reflecting on the changes, Kyle highlighted the growing interest in connecting classroom learning with cafeteria menus, allowing students to understand where their food comes from. To address this growing interest, GMRI has developed a local seafood curriculum for middle schoolers, and through projects like GMRI’s resource library and community events, they also engage the broader community.

As GMRI continues its sea to school work, Kyle and her team are committed to building lasting relationships between schools and local seafood producers. Their efforts ensure that students not only enjoy healthy, delicious meals but also learn about the value of sustainable food systems that nourish both people and the planet.

Stay tuned for more updates and resources from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, and don’t forget to explore their Sea to School Program as we celebrate National Farm to School Month!

Thank you to our official 2024 National Farm to School Month sponsors, CoBank and National Education Association, for supporting this work.

By: Ananya Kumar, Communications Intern

In the heart of Southeast Alaska lies a small island community, home to Petersburg Borough School District with just 466 students across three schools. With its history as a Norwegian fishing village and diverse cultural influences from Filipino, Hispanic, Ukrainian, and Russian populations, this community thrives on its connection to the sea. Carlee Johnson McIntosh, the district’s food service director since 2011, has been at the helm of transforming the school’s meal program, incorporating local seafood and fresh produce while preserving the community’s heritage.

Revitalizing the School Meal Program

When Carlee first arrived, the school’s food program was a simple reheat-and-serve operation, offering processed meals with little connection to local foods. But over the years, Carlee has spearheaded significant improvements, including the introduction of cooking kitchens and the district’s first salad bar. During the pandemic, the district's new kitchen facilities got a soft launch, allowing for a gradual shift towards fresh, scratch-cooked meals.

Carlee’s efforts to incorporate local seafood into school meals have been a game changer. In the early years, the district received fish sporadically, but today, students can enjoy a variety of Alaskan fish, including halibut, coho and sockeye salmon, fresh tuna, Alaskan pollock, Black cod, and even herring eggs, a traditional food harvested on kelp and served as a high-protein addition to the salad bar. These efforts tie into Alaska Native food traditions and provide students with culturally relevant meals that are both nutritious and flavorful.

Serving Local Seafood‍

One of the standout features of the school district’s meal program is its commitment to offering regional seafood. On a six-week cycle menu, students can enjoy seafood dishes at least once, sometimes more. Some of the student favorites include rockfish tacos and halibut chili, offering a taste of different fish species from across Alaska.

Students also get to participate in unique taste tests that teach them about the diversity of seafood available in their region. For example, students had the chance to compare the flavors of sockeye, coho, chum, and king salmon, learning that while king salmon may have the highest reputation, the other varieties also offer delicious, nuanced flavors!

Carlee highlights that the district serves regional proteins beyond fish as well. For example, moose, another Alaskan staple, is sometimes substituted for beef through a special program that allows the school district to receive confiscated illegally hunted meat. Last year, the school received 250 pounds of moose, which replaced beef in items such as spaghetti and tacos. This program connects students to local, culturally relevant food items, while not letting poached meat go to waste.

Building Relationships with Local Fishers, Farmers, and the Community‍

The school district works closely with local organizations like OBI Seafoods, a nearby cannery that provides local Alaskan fish for the district. While USDA regulations require fish to be processed before it can be served in schools, OBI helps by donating part of the processing costs, making it more affordable for the district to serve high-quality seafood.

In addition to local seafood, the district also buys local vegetables like fingerling potatoes, carrots, and rhubarb from Farragut Farms, a vegetable farm 25 miles north of Petersburg. Husband-and-wife team Bo Varsano and Marja Smets run the farm, growing produce without pesticides, herbicides, or commercial fertilizers. Instead, they use compost made from seaweed, fish waste, and beach grass harvested from the nearby shore.

Their partnership began naturally when Carlee was initially looking to incorporate more local produce into her district’s school meals, since Farragut Farms is one of the only commercial farms in the Petersburg area. “Carlee approached us and said, ‘Hey, I understand you’re trying to feed the community—we’ll take any extra!’ She’s been super enthusiastic about getting local food into the school kitchen," Marja shared. "Carlee really goes above and beyond, more than anyone I’ve worked with. She’s such a cheerleader for local food, and it’s really encouraging."  

The Petersburg region is made up of a collection of islands, which poses a unique challenge for local produce procurement. Farragut Farms is located on the mainland, so Marja and Bo deliver their vegetables to the Petersburg school district with their catamaran via a four-hour boat ride.

The partnership between Petersburg school district and Farragut Farms has grown over the years, with the demand from school meals providing the farm with a consistent market opportunity. Farragut Farms now provides larger quantities of produce, such as 500 pounds of potatoes or carrots at a time. "As a farmer, it’s really nice knowing that the kids are getting local food and knowing where it’s coming from," Marja added.

"As a farmer, it’s really nice knowing that the kids are getting local food and knowing where it’s coming from," — Marja Smets, Farragut Farms

Marja takes pride in selling her produce to local schools and encourages other small farmers to consider working with schools: "While most small farms turn to farmers markets or CSAs for revenue, there’s also a big demand for local produce from schools. I would encourage small farms to ask around."

‍Alaska Native traditions are also woven into the fabric of the school’s culinary program. The district partners with the Petersburg Indian Association to bring Indigenous food knowledge into the classroom, teaching students how to harvest local ingredients and use them in everyday cooking. This not only enriches the students’ cultural understanding but also honors the stewardship of the land and ocean by the area’s Indigenous peoples.

Looking Forward: Farm to School Month

‍This October, the school district is gearing up to celebrate Farm to School Month with a variety of activities, including the Healthy Meals Summit, which coincides with National School Lunch Week and Indigenous Peoples’ Month. With so many ideas brewing, Carlee and her team are excited to continue showcasing local foods and connecting students with the producers who nourish their community.

Petersburg Borough School District’s farm & sea to school program offers a powerful example of how schools can embrace local food systems to create healthier, more culturally relevant meals for students. Through her work, Carlee is not only improving school lunches but also strengthening the connection between students and the rich natural resources of their island home.

Stay tuned for more spotlights on farm and sea to school programs across the country as we celebrate National Farm to School Month this October!

Thank you to our official 2024 National Farm to School Month sponsors, CoBank and National Education Association, for supporting this work.

By: Ananya Kumar, Communications Intern

Hispanic Heritage Month is a special time to celebrate the rich culture of the community, and this year, several National Farm to School Network (NFSN) Partners are celebrating through food, agriculture, and education. Our Partners are not only feeding students, but also connecting them to their cultural roots through vibrant, nutritious meals and interactive learning. Here’s how three of our partners are making Hispanic Heritage Month a meaningful experience for their school communities.

‍Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District - Pharr, Texas

In the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD), located just 20 minutes from the U.S.-Mexico border, the Child Nutrition Department is combining farm to school initiatives with culturally relevant meals. With the leadership of Habraham Lopez, the district’s Agroecology & Sustainability Supervisor, the district has woven local foods into their school meals, with an emphasis on serving culturally relevant meals for the district’s large population of students with Hispanic and Latine heritages.

The school district kicked off their Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations on September 16, which marks Mexican Independence Day. In the cafeteria, PSJA ISD served popular favorites like chorizo & egg breakfast tacos, beef tamales, sopa de fideo, arroz casero, charro beans, and barbacoa tacos! These dishes, paired with decorations, music, and a spirit week including days like “Hispanic Inspiration Day” and “Go Tejano!” create an immersive celebration of culture for students and staff. “A little bit of home, especially at school, goes a long way,” Habraham reflects. Although their Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations featured special menu items, the school district incorporates culturally relevant meals year-round to serve their student demographic.

Habraham is also leading efforts to increase local procurement and coordinate school garden operations—currently at 28 school gardens across 42 campuses. Students participate in growing kale, collard greens and cauliflower, along with more familiar produce, such as varieties of chiles, tomates and cebollas. Students get to try the food they grow in fun taste tests like kale chips and smoothies, but most of the produce is given out for students to take home. This garden education not only teaches students to enjoy fresh, local foods, but also empowers them with seeing familiar culturally relevant foods both in the cafeteria and garden.

One important part of what has made PSJA ISD’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations and farm to school initiatives successful has been involving the cafeteria and kitchen staff in the process. “I’m always listening to our staff when they tell us what the kids like and what doesn’t work, because they understand the kids best and are interacting with them everyday,” Habraham told us. He’s thankful that staff have been excited and supportive of the changes of adding more local food, and his goal is always to make sure staff are supported in their work.  

“The food students get at school may be the only hot meal that some kids eat. With food, it’s important that they are introduced to new items, but equally important that they see foods they eat at home.” — Habraham Lopez

Habraham reflects that serving culturally relevant meals at school is meaningful because “the food students get at school may be the only hot meal that some kids eat. With food, it’s important that they are introduced to new items, but equally important that they see foods they eat at home.” As for celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, “this might be the first time students hear about it, and it’s our obligation to show that this month is for them.”

‍IDEA Public Schools: Harvesting Heritage from School Gardens - Texas

IDEA Public Schools is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a focus on peppers—both in the classroom and on the menu. As part of their "Harvest of the Month," the IDEA Child Nutrition Program is featuring peppers in meals across over 100 campuses, showcasing this versatile crop with fun, educational resources and videos for students, staff, and families. Their Harvest of the Month recipe features Roasted Salsa Roja, which received glowing reviews from students in taste tests, and was on the school lunch menu in September!  

‍IDEA Public Schools has a robust farm to school program, with farms established on campuses to grow fresh produce for students. This model has allowed the school district to hire staff through the Child Nutrition Program, who are then able to manage the farm operation and provide quality agricultural education for their students. Students get to be a fundamental part of the planting, growing and harvesting process throughout the school day.

Rocio Hernandez, the Child Nutrition Program Farm Manager at the school district, highlights the pride this brings to the community. “The collaboration between our nutrition team and IDEA Farms ensures that the crops are grown to the highest standards and delivered to our district cafeterias for our students,” she shares.

In addition to "Harvest in the Halls" events that encourage student participation through taste tests and interactive Q&As, the hands-on connection that students have with food through their campus farms to food reinforces the cultural significance of meals like those featured during Hispanic Heritage Month, while promoting healthy eating habits and local agriculture.

Edible Schoolyard Project: Teaching Heritage Through Food - Berkeley, California

At the Edible Schoolyard Project in Berkeley, California, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated with a unique culinary experience for their 8th-grade students. In their classrooms, students are learning how to make pupusas—a traditional dish from El Salvador—stuffed with black beans and served with curtido, a tangy cabbage slaw. The produce for the dish comes directly from the school garden, grown by the students themselves. This lesson is the first in a series designed for the 8th graders in collaboration with the school cafeteria, fostering both cultural appreciation and practical culinary skills in students.

Taís Reis, kitchen educator, Edible Schoolyard Project, is excited to connect students with their heritage through this hands-on lesson. The celebration extended to the cafeteria on September 25, where the pupusas were served for lunch, allowing all students to partake in the cultural experience!

‍_‍Final Insights

These inspiring efforts by our NFSN Partners demonstrate the power of food in celebrating and honoring culture. From diverse meals in the school cafeteria to taste tests, agricultural education, and cooking lessons, the connection between local agriculture and culturally relevant meals is creating meaningful experiences for students, staff, and communities during Hispanic Heritage Month.

As these Partners continue to build bridges between food, culture, and education, they help students feel seen, valued, and connected to their families, identity and heritage—one meal at a time.

For Immediate Release

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Press Contact: Jiyoon Chon

National Farm to School Network

Communications@farmtoschool.org

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National Farm to School Network Celebrates USDA’s Investment in Local Food Systems

CHICAGO, IL – 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. This funding builds on the success of the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, which initially received $200 million, by adding $500 million for schools and $200 million for child care facilities participating in the national Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Notably, this is the first time CCC funds have been specifically allocated to support CACFP facilities, according to the National CACFP Sponsors Association.

NFSN has been a strong advocate for expanding this program since its inception, contributing research on program design and early implementation, while highlighting innovative incentive models from state-level partners that directly support food hubs, distributors, and individual farmers. 

“We're thrilled that programs across the country feeding our kids every day will get more fresh, local food in their communities—and that the hardworking producers in their states and Tribal nations will have this market opportunity. It's a crucial moment for USDA to address urgent needs and build the long-term resilience of our food supply with this investment,” said Karen Spangler, NFSN policy director.

“We’ve seen firsthand that these programs are effective. More than a dozen states have already adopted similar local food purchasing incentives, demonstrating multifaceted positive benefits for economic development, equity, public health, and education. Establishing the Local Food for Schools program at the federal level ensures that these benefits reach communities across all regions of the US, extending the positive impact to even more farmers, families, and children,” said Cassandra Bull, NFSN policy specialist.

This new funding will help prevent local farmers, ranchers, and producers—who have expanded their operations to meet increased institutional demand—from being negatively impacted by the end of the temporary Local Food for Schools program. However, Congress must act quickly to make this program permanent for schools, child care settings, and emergency food providers. As the next round of funding is distributed, NFSN remains committed to supporting state and local partners with implementation, researching effective program models, and building the movement’s capacity to advocate for a long-term federal solution.

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About National Farm to School Network

National Farm to School Network is the leading voice for the U.S. farm to school and farm to early care and education movement, working as an information, advocacy and networking hub for communities to bring local food sourcing, gardens, and food and agriculture education into schools and early care and education settings. Learn more at: http://farmtoschool.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS CONTACT:

Jiyoon Chon

National Farm to School Network

jiyoon@farmtoschool.org

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October 1, 2024 – This October, schools and early care and education sites across the country are celebrating National Farm to School Month, a 31-day campaign to recognize the benefits that farm to school and farm to early care and education bring to youth, families, farmers and communities. National Farm to School Network advocated for the creation of National Farm to School Month in 2010, and it was officially recognized by Congress shortly after.

Farm to school is a movement that builds just and equitable food systems through the ways kids eat, grow and learn about food in school and early care and education settings. Farm to school is a win for kids when they eat nourishing food in meals and snacks, participate in hands-on activities and learn about the importance of where our food comes from; a win for farmers when school market opportunities provide reliable and consistent sales and fair pay; and a win for communities when food is grown, distributed, prepared and consumed for the benefit of every community member. To ensure all communities see the benefit of these wins, farm to school activities must be firmly centered in equity.

This year’s National Farm to School Month theme is “From Soil to Sea: Nourishing People and Planet.” This embodies our commitment to honoring the vital role of producers in our food system. From dedicated farmers and ranchers to fishers, their work and expertise lay the foundation for a thriving farm to school movement. We also celebrate the invaluable traditional knowledge of Indigenous and BIPOC communities in stewarding the land and seas—honed over generations, their wisdom is crucial to building a resilient, equitable, and sustainable food system that will continue to nourish both people and planet. 

Throughout October, National Farm to School Network’s activities will be focused on celebrating achievements, sharing stories of farm to school programs and highlighting progress toward racial equity in farm to school, so that we can continue to grow stronger, together. 

National Farm to School Network’s October celebrations also include the annual Movement Meeting on October 17 from 3 - 4:30 pm ET. The Movement Meeting is a gathering point for advocates in the farm to school and farm to early care and education realms, providing an invaluable opportunity to come together, rejoice in our shared achievements, foster meaningful connections, ignite inspiration and collectively nurture our growth. This event is free to register and open to the public—we invite anyone interested in farm to school and ECE to join us. 

National Farm to School Network offers dozens of free resources for celebrating National Farm to School Month on our website, http://www.farmtoschoolmonth.org. People can find resources such as a celebration toolkit, posters, bookmarks, suggested activities and more. Participants are encouraged to share their excitement through social media with the hashtags #F2SMonth and #farmtoschool. 

We thank and acknowledge this year's National Farm to School Month sponsor, CoBank.

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About National Farm to School Network

National Farm to School Network is the leading voice for the U.S. farm to school and farm to early care and education movement, working as an information, advocacy and networking hub for communities to bring local food sourcing, gardens, and food and agriculture education into schools and early care and education settings. Learn more at: http://farmtoschool.org.

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