Introduction

Farm to School advocates have long been at the helm of state-level School Meals for All coalitions. Through study analysis of four successful campaigns, National Farm to School Network illustrated the pivotal role of farm to school initiatives and values-aligned¹ policies in driving School Meals for All advocacy. By integrating farm to school principles into both policy language and messaging, advocates have fortified the foundation of School Meals for All initiatives. Incorporating key talking points about the benefits of farm to school such as economic development, workers' rights, and meal quality enhances bipartisan support and diversifies coalition membership to include farm to school advocates and local producers.

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.

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¹ Values-aligned purchases happen when buyers make purchasing decisions based on more than price or even where the product was grown. Values can encompass the characteristics or identities of the producer or business, their business practices, or characteristics about the product itself. These values will also vary by community and context. See National Farm to School Network’s six community values here.

Background 

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government issued meal waivers that made school meals available at no cost to students. However, these waivers expired in June 2022. Seeing the multifaceted benefits School Meals for All had on their communities, state policymakers began introducing bills to codify state-level School Meals for All policies. 

By the end of 2022, three states (California, Maine, and Colorado) had passed permanent policies with several states passing temporary measures. By the end of 2023, more than 30 states introduced School Meals for All legislation and eight states (California, Maine, Colorado, New Mexico, Vermont, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Michigan) passed permanent policies.

Previous policy analysis from the National Farm to School Network in 2022 demonstrates that the prevalence of School Meals for All policies is highly intertwined with policies that support farm to school. This continues to be the case in 2024, where seven of the eight states (88%) with permanent School Meals for All policies also have local food purchasing incentive programs. The eighth state, Massachusetts, has introduced legislation (H.3993) to create a pilot local food purchasing incentive program. Two states, Colorado and New Mexico, expanded their incentive programs through their successful School Meals for All bills. Rhode Island (H.B. 6007) and Illinois (H.B. 2471) have also included local purchasing language in School Meals for All bills they introduced. 

In short, the intertwining success of School Meals for All policies and farm to school initiatives underscores the transformative impact of holistic approaches to nutrition and community well-being. 

Examples of Graphics
Below are examples of graphics developed by state advocates that demonstrate this impact. These graphics have been adapted by coalitions across the country to fit their unique contexts. 

The Virtuous Cycle of Expanding School Meals & Farm to School

Vermont

The Vermont Farm to School Network and Hunger Free Vermont developed the “Virtuous Cycle” of farm to school and School Meals for All. Advocates in the state have been sharing iterations of this graphic dating back to at least 2016. The Virtuous Cycle shows how investments in school meals, such as universal school meals, a fully funded grants program, and a local food purchasing incentive program as inputs can create a cycle that continues to elevate school meals. By increasing participation in school meals, the program generates more revenue for schools, which in turn allows for more local purchasing, elevating the quality of meals overall. This improved quality, along with farm to school programming, further increases participation and interest in school meals—thus creating the Virtuous Cycle. The results are improved student outcomes, a strengthened local economy, and the elimination of stigma from eating school meals. Learn more about Vermont’s successful School Meals for All campaign here.

Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Healthy School Meals for All Coalition, in collaboration with Professor Jennifer Gaddis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, crafted a unique Virtuous Cycle graphic. This iteration sets itself apart from previous models by emphasizing a robust labor dimension. It integrates "workforce development and improved compensation" as foundational elements, highlighting "enhanced capacity to offer high-quality jobs for school nutrition workers" and "elevated culinary skills with the ability to utilize Wisconsin and regionally-grown foods" within its circular framework. By foregrounding labor and support for labor, this approach underlines the essential role that a well-supported workforce plays in sustaining and enhancing the quality and nutritional value of school meals. It asserts that investing in the workforce is pivotal to the success of farm to school programs, ensuring they not only nourish students but also enrich local economies and communities. This topic is explored further in the report Hungry for Good Jobs: The State of the School Nutrition Workforce in Wisconsin.

Connecticut

School Meals 4 All Connecticut has yet another variation on the Virtuous Cycle graphic. This graphic does not include the three inputs, or arrows going in. In the original version, the three inputs were School Meals for All, a grant program, and a local food purchasing incentive program. Connecticut does have both a local food incentive and a grant program, and the exclusions of these in the graphic are likely for simplicity. However, we present this graphic here to illustrate that the Virtuous Cycle does not require these additional farm to school programs to continue elevating school meals. This concept is discussed in greater detail below.

Michigan’s What’s on Your Plate? Graphic
Michigan’s 10 Cents a Meal team takes a different approach by using lunch trays in their graphic. Cheyenne Liberti, Farm to Program Consultant at the Michigan Department of Education, developed the “What’s on Your Plate?” graphic, which offers a striking visual portrayal of how different school meal programs impact meal content, costs, and local economies. Through this comparison chart, we can see the differences in meal compositions under different scenarios: Michigan School Meals program, 10 Cents a Meal initiative, both, or neither. Each plate showcases where the ingredients were sourced, shedding light on the vital role of local food purchasing incentive programs in directing school food budgets toward local economies. Lastly, including dollar amounts sharing the cost to students and income to local farmers per school meal powerfully underscores the symbiotic relationship between school meal programs and local purchasing initiatives. While both policies have their distinct benefits, this graphic shows how the two policies result in the greatest state investment in the community to benefit children and local farmers.

National Farm to School Network’s How School Meals for All Can Improve Meal Quality
National Farm to School Network has developed a timeline that explains the immediate, mid-term, and long-term benefits of School Meals for All. This timeline was developed as part of a two-pager that explains how School Meals for All policies can increase local, values-aligned purchasing and improve meal quality, even without additional farm to school policy supports. It explains how the immediate benefits of School Meals for All – eliminated school lunch stigma, increased participation, elimination of unplanned school meal debt – allow for mid-term benefits such as increased and stable revenue, and more staff time unlocked to connect with local producers, scratch cook, train staff, and more. These benefits, over time, can culminate in more robust farm to school programming and have greater community-wide impacts.

On Quality and Access

These graphics implicitly highlight a crucial point: both policies are integral investments in enhancing school meal programs, representing two sides to the same coin. On one side, School Meals for All policies significantly improve meal access, ensuring that all students have reliable access to nutritious meals. Conversely, farm to school policies, often manifested as local food purchasing incentive programs, bolster meal quality and contribute to broader community impact. Together, these policies form complementary approaches that not only address immediate food access challenges but also foster a culture of wellness and sustainability within our communities.

‍Incorporating Values

Through our Who’s At the Table? School Meals campaign, the National Farm to School Network emphasizes the significance of "values-aligned" purchasing within child nutrition programs. This approach transcends mere price considerations, delving into factors such as the identity of farm owners, their business and growing practices, and the intrinsic qualities of the ingredients themselves. While specific values may vary across communities, our organization upholds a set of core values encompassing economic justice, environmental sustainability, health impact, racial equity, workers' rights, and animal welfare. Some graphics above explicitly explore these values while others do so more implicitly. When School Meals for All policies are coupled with farm to school initiatives and values-aligned purchases, they can transform the food system as we know it.

Conclusion

We present these graphics not merely as illustrative tools but as powerful vehicles for transformation. This approach advocates for systemic changes within school food systems, recognizing that improvements in one area can catalyze positive outcomes across the entire system. By adopting a holistic perspective, we can more effectively address the complex challenges facing school nutrition programs, ensuring that they are sustainable, equitable, and capable of providing high-quality meals to all students. We urge advocates to draw upon these visuals for inspiration, adapting and innovating upon them to suit their distinct contexts and needs. There are many ways to illustrate the mutual benefits of farm to school, values-aligned purchasing, and School Meals for All. Advocates with diverse perspectives and backgrounds can continue to leverage the ways these elements mutually benefit one another, paving the way for a healthier, more equitable future.

In January, National Farm to School Network’s Policy Director Karen Spangler and Policy Specialist Ryan Betz joined organizations from across the country in Washington, D.C., for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s (NSAC) 2024 Winter Meeting. While Congress considers its overdue Farm Bill reauthorization, grassroots organizations gathered to learn, connect, and strategize on how we can best keep pushing for a Farm Bill that makes our food system more resilient, healthier, and more equitable. 

NFSN’s Farm Bill priorities call for not only direct farm to school support, but also the foundational supports that make these activities possible: diverse local market opportunities for producers, tools to help small producers manage risk, and investment in the policies that build food security and resilience in our food system overall. 

Investments in local food programs and accessibility will strengthen the market channels and producer opportunities for a more robust value chain. Through working in coalition as members of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, NFSN can support specific, detailed policy changes to conservation programs, crop insurance, and other complex (but important!) federal agricultural assistance. Additionally, many NFSN Partner organizations work in multiple areas of their local food systems, from farmer assistance to SNAP incentives, so we appreciate the chance for NFSN to add our voice to these priorities across the Farm Bill. 

NSAC members hit the Hill later that week to meet with legislators and demonstrate the powerful grassroots demand for better Farm Bill changes. While it may seem intimidating to make change in a policy as vast as the Farm Bill, proposals known as “marker bills” provide detailed ideas for reforms. Some key changes supported by NSAC and NFSN that impact farm to school stakeholders include:

• Local Farms and Food Act (S.1205, H.R.2723): This bill would strengthen local infrastructure and market opportunities for producers while increasing healthy food access. The viability of local producers, food hubs, and supply chains directly supports farm to school and farm to ECE. 
• Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act (S.2591, H.R. 5915): This bill would increase federal support for urban farmers, improve service delivery for urban farmers, and increase funding for the USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. 
• Strengthening Local Processing Act (S.354, H.R. 945): This bill would increase support for small meat and poultry processing plants in the US, in an effort to help farmers and ranchers access local markets and provide consumers, including school food purchasers, with more options for locally-sourced meat. 
• Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program Improvement Act (S.2598): This bill would expand crop insurance options for diversified producers (those growing/raising more than one kind of product) and specialty crops (such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts). These types of producers, who are more likely to be small or beginning businesses, are vital for farm to school markets and education opportunities. 
• EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act (S.3390, H.R.6569): This bill would direct USDA to better prioritize values in its own procurement and would establish a pilot to dedicate a portion of USDA purchasing to values-based criteria. 

For more comprehensive information on these and other marker bills, you can visit NSAC’s blog. 

While House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders wrestle with negotiations in Washington, it’s an extremely important time for your legislators to hear from you about why these kinds of specific policy changes are important to your community. The timeline for each committee to unveil their respective drafts (the “Chairman’s Mark”) and clear all the hurdles to final passage is still uncertain, so we will need advocates who care about these issues to remain engaged and persistent throughout this process!   

National Farm to School Network launches a new project, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and Life Time Foundation, to enhance the well-being of children, fortify family-run farms, and foster thriving communities.

National Farm to School Network is excited to announce the first cohorts for the Farm to School Coordinators Project. Last fall, National Farm to School Network announced the launch of this new project, made possible by the support from USDA and Life Time Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created by Life Time Inc. (NYSE: LTH), with a mission to inspire Healthy People, a Healthy Planet, and a Healthy Way of Life. 

National Farm to School Network’s goal with this project is to increase the number of dedicated farm to school coordinator positions in school districts across the country—which will result in expanded capacity for locally sourced food items and scratch cooking in schools. This project will also help boost the incorporation of hands-on nutrition education in classroom curriculum and raise participation in farm and garden-based agricultural education activities. 

National Farm to School Network is grateful for the support of Life Time Foundation for this project. This partnership is one way in which Life Time Foundation addresses the elimination of ultra-processed foods as per the Ingredient Guide for Better School Food Purchasing. By promoting the use of locally sourced ingredients in schools, it helps reduce the amount of unnecessary ingredients that are commonly found in highly processed school meals. In line with this, a key finding from the Sapien Labs Consumption of ultra-processed food and mental wellbeing outcomes October 2023 report was, “Mental wellbeing decreases sharply with higher frequency of ultra-processed food consumption.”  

“We are delighted to get started on this work to grow capacity for school district communities to participate in farm to school,” said Sunny Baker, Senior Director of Programs and Policy at National Farm to School Network. “The Life Time Foundation is a wonderful partner for this work and we’re grateful for their support for this generative work.”  

This project includes two groups, one of which is a Community of Practice for current farm to school coordinators. Representing school districts of various sizes from across the country, the following cohort members will come together to share best practices, problem solve, and develop resources that can help others in similar roles succeed: 

• Allison Pfaff Harris, REAP Food Group, WI 
• Brianna Jackson, Chicopee Public Schools, MA 
• Dory Cooper, Wylde Center, GA  
• Janelle Manzano, San Diego Unified School District, CA  
• Jennifer Lynn Lewis, East Jordan Public Schools, MI 
• Kirsten Weigle, Minneapolis Public Schools, MN
• Maryssa Wilson, Sidney Central School District, NY
• Rebecca Rodriguez, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, OH 

Likewise, we are also thrilled to announce the School District Working Group, which will convene with the intent to build the case to create a farm to school coordinator role in their school district as well as others across the country: 

• Amanda Warren, Staunton City Schools, VA
• Cedra Milton, Jackson Public Schools, MS
• Emily Becker, Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP), AK
• Erica Biagetti, Cheshire Public Schools, CT
• Lynne Short, Willamina School District, OR
• Margaret Zelenka, West New York School District, NJ
• Monica Fleisher, Portland Public Schools, OR
• Nicole Chandler, Little Rock School District, AR
• Rhonda L. Barlow, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, GA
• Samantha Goyret, Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network, TN

The impact of this project will be far-reaching—collectively, the Community of Practice and Working Group cohort members represent 21 school districts and 433,950 students.

Together, National Farm to School Network and Life Time Foundation envision a future where fresh, locally sourced produce becomes a staple in school cafeterias nationwide, fostering better physical health and deeper connection between communities and their local food systems. By focusing on locally grown food, it allows communities to engage in sustainable food systems that not only support health but also mitigate environmental harm. This partnership underscores a shared commitment to improving the overall well-being of students and transforming the landscape of school nutrition, addressing not only the immediate health needs of students but also providing the foundation for healthy lifelong habits and environmental conservation.  

"We want all children to live healthier, happier lives and that starts with the food they eat," said Megan Flynn, MPH, RD Life Time Foundation Nutrition Program Manager. "That's why we are proud to collaborate with National Farm to School Network to support all school food professionals in their efforts to eliminate ultra-processed foods and educate students on the importance of local, fresh foods for their health and wellbeing." 

About Life Time Foundation 

Life Time Foundation, a 501c(3) nonprofit created by Life Time, Inc. is dedicated to inspiring Healthy People, a Healthy Planet, and a Healthy Way of Life. Through its work, the Foundation supports schools in their efforts to serve healthy, nutritious meals to students; physical movement programs and events that get children active and healthy; and initiatives that promote a healthy planet, including programs supporting forestation and conservation. For more information, visit www.ltfoundation.org. 

About National Farm to School Network 
The National Farm to School Network is an information, advocacy and networking hub for communities working to bring local food sourcing, school gardens and food and agriculture education into schools and early care and education settings. The National Farm to School Network provides vision, leadership and support at the state, regional and national levels to connect and expand the farm to school movement, which has grown from a handful of schools in the late 1990s to approximately 67,300 schools in all 50 states as of 2019. Our network includes partner organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. Territories, thousands of farm to school supporters, a national advisory board and staff. Learn more at farmtoschool.org. 

Guest blog by Marcus Glenn, Houston Independent School District

I am Marcus Glenn, an agriculture educator with Houston Independent School District’s (ISD) Nutrition Services—Food and Agriculture Literacy Department (FAL), where I lead an interdisciplinary food literacy program that increases students' agriculture, nutrition, and culinary literacy. As a current member of the National Farm to School Network (NFSN) Racial Equity Learning Lab Cohort, I have had the privilege of sharing space with others involved in various aspects of farm to school. Together, we engage in discussions about issues, ideas, and stories within the movement. Now, I want to share the story of Houston ISD’s Nutrition Services, and how we go beyond the plate to help students and families develop more than a consumer relationship with their food. 

The thing I love and am also vexed by with farm to school is that there is no ideal model. This allows for a lot of creativity by program designers, but also leaves for a lack of guidance from state and federal partners. Fortunately, there are organizations out there like USDA Food & Nutrition Service, NFSN, Extension, the Whole Kids Foundation, School Garden Support Organization, the Junior Master Gardener program, Farm Bureau, and others that provide great resources and support for farm to school education.

Farm to school at Houston ISD currently includes two unique programs that help students increase their nutrition and agriculture literacy. We administer the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program at 85 schools, serving a fresh fruit or vegetable tasting to approximately 45,000 students. This serving is also paired with nutrition education to encourage students to eat the fruits and vegetables when they see them in the National School Lunch Program. 

Additionally, our Get Growing Houston program is an interdisciplinary food literacy program that is rooted in agriculture and nutrition education, and we add culinary education to make it fun (who wants to learn about food without eating it?!). Get Growing Houston has grown over the past four years from a blank 6.5-acre plot and a program at an elementary, middle and high school, to where we currently serve 110 out of the 274 schools in our district. This program provides professional development and resources such as seeds, soil, beds, and curriculum for teachers. We also host field trips to our Food and Agriculture Literacy Center at Mykawa Farm, where last year we engaged 1,572 students in farm to school education and harvested 1,500 pounds of produce.   

While we have had some great growth in the past two years, I am excited about the next few years to incorporate lessons learned from running the program and collaborating with our partners to make us better. I know that without our federal, state, and private philanthropic partners, we would not be where we are today. Aside from USDA-Food and Nutrition Service and Texas Department of Agriculture as our regulating partners, some of our other partners are USDA-Texas Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Whole Kids Foundation, the Mission Continues and the Junior Master Gardener Program from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, and Texas Farm Bureau. 

These five entities have seen the value of the work we do and have supported us tremendously. For example, the Whole Kids Foundation provided us with private philanthropic dollars to lay the foundation of our farm—without their initial investment, we would not be where we currently are. We have also had the opportunity to develop a long-term conservation plan for the farm with support from Texas-NRCS and to serve as a training location for Urban Conservationists, who also awarded a Conservation Innovation Grant to allow us to install an ADA pathway at our farm to make it more accessible for students and community members with disabilities. 

For several years, The Mission Continues has provided funding and volunteers for different projects that we needed at the farm: covered teaching pavilion, shade sails, raised beds, benches, shed, and compost bays. We also had the honor of serving as a national training site for graduates of one of their community service leadership programs. 

Another way we have improved our farm to school programming was by identifying a need for and developing a gardening curriculum. In a district survey about garden programs, over 100 schools responded saying they were interested in gardening but needed help with identifying curriculum and other resources to help them have a robust garden education program. With this data, we went to our friends at Junior Master Gardener and we worked to standardize the program across the district for early childhood and elementary schools. Currently, we are working with Texas A&M’s Department of Agriculture, Leadership, Education and Communications to enhance middle school focused garden-based education. 

Lastly, we have been able to develop a wonderful relationship with the Texas Farm Bureau and utilize the “Food Dollar” to show students where in the food chain their money goes. This partnership has also allowed us to provide teachers with more access to resources and opportunities to enhance the work they are doing to educate students about food, agriculture, and natural resource careers. 

This has been an overview of the efforts of Houston ISD’s Nutrition Services to go beyond the plate and ensure that students and families develop more than a consumer relationship with their food. The key takeaway is that our program is gaining traction not only because of what we as a department have done on our own, but because of the partnerships and relationships we have cultivated to help our kids eat better food, connect to the food they eat, and understand how it got to them. To those currently involved in farm to school, I encourage all of us to push ourselves to go beyond the status quo to continue growing and advancing the movement.  

By Cassandra Bull, NFSN Policy Specialist

Introduction

In reflecting upon the transformative strides made in 2023 for farm to school, the policy team at National Farm to School Network extends heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated advocates who have been the driving force behind this pivotal year. The unwavering commitment and tireless efforts of this Network have not only shaped policies but nurtured this movement to cultivate vibrant communities. As 2023 comes to a close, let us celebrate the milestones achieved, the seeds of change planted, and the collective impact of our advocacy. Together, we honor your instrumental role in fostering a thriving, just, and resilient future through state and federal policies.

Federal Policy 

From increased funding, expanded school meal access, and renewed calls for school meals for all, farm to school made significant policy gains at the federal level. Policymakers and administrators supported policies that build upon equity for students, communities, and resilience within the local food system. Below we highlight a few of the exciting federal developments: 

Farm to School Act of 2023  At the top of the list is the bipartisan, bicameral reintroduction of the Farm to School Act. On behalf of the Network, NFSN staff worked with policymakers in the House and Senate to increase both the mandatory funding and grant cap to the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program grants at USDA. Additionally, the bills would allow better target funding to support Tribal projects, community need, and beginning and socially disadvantaged producers, and grant USDA the authority to modify or waive the current 25% matching requirement.

Farm to School Month Resolution The Senate officially designated October 2023 as National Farm to School Month by unanimous consent, recognizing that farm to school continues to be a triple win for kids, farmers, and communities!

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allows eligible schools and districts to serve free school meals to all students, was expanded! Previously, schools qualified for CEP if at least 40% of students are categorically approved for free school meals because they benefit from SNAP, Medicaid, or other similar programs. In 2023, the threshold was lowered to 25%, opening doors for millions more students to access nutritious school meals. This decision is a powerful step towards fighting hunger and promoting equity in schools. It is also a nudge for states to pass Healthy School Meals for All policies. The next critical policy change advocates have been working on is to increase the CEP reimbursement multiplier, which would make it more financially viable for schools to participate in the program. 

The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program was funded at the highest levels to date. In both 2023 and 2024, this grant program has a budget of $12 million.

The Local School Foods Expansion Act of 2023 was introduced by Senators Wyden, Brown, and Welch and Representative Jayapal, which aims to expand the popular Pilot Project for the Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits and Vegetables to reach 14 states.

COVID-19 relief programs started to benefit communities and strengthen supply chain resilience, including:‍

• The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement program, is a non-competitive cooperative agreement program that provided up to $200 million in funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation to state agencies to purchase local, unprocessed or minimally processed foods from farmers and ranchers, prioritizing "socially disadvantaged" farmers, ranchers, and small businesses.

• Non-competitive Farm to School State Formula Grants, which provides up to $60 million to state and territory agencies to support efforts to coordinate and provide technical assistance to increase farm to school activities.

• The Healthy Meals Incentives for Schools Initiative works to increase agricultural education, use of local food in scratched-cooked school meals, and increase development of culturally-relevant school meals. Grant programs include grants for small and/or rural communities, recognition awards, school food system transformation challenge sub-grants, and healthy meals summits. 

‍School Meals for All and Expanding School Meal Access bills were introduced in both the Senate and the House that would establish permanent school meals for all and create incentives for local food purchasing. Other bills to expand school meal access include one that would increase the multiplier for federal reimbursement for schools participating in CEP from 1.6 to 2.5, making CEP more financially viable for more schools; one that create a statewide option to enroll in the CEP; and another that would increase eligibility for free meals to 200 percent and expand direct certification of school meal assistance for children receiving Medicaid benefits.

State Policy

This year, states implemented a range of policies aimed at bolstering every facet of farm to school. Especially in a time of federal gridlock, states have tremendous power to enact meaningful change and drive innovation in policy. We tracked over 350 bills introduced across the country spanning meal access, farm to school and ECE, values-aligned purchasing, labor, scratch cooking, school wellness, and equitable producer support. Of all the incredible state bills and policies, here are some of the highlights:

School Meals for All Policies took the nation by storm this year. Eight states now permanently provide school meals at no cost to students and more than two dozen more have introduced similar policies. All eight states have also taken significant steps to support values-aligned or local school food purchasing through grants or local food purchasing incentives. School Meals for All policies in New Mexico (2023) and Colorado (2022) expanded their state’s local food purchasing incentives as part of these bills. View NFSN’s case study series on School Meals for All campaigns.

Local Food Purchasing Incentive Programs also gained momentum, with more states introducing (MA and NJ), passing (CT and IL-subject to appropriations), expanding foods in their programs (ME), and increasing existing program budgets.

Values-Aligned Purchasing bills were introduced (NY) and passed (IL) that allow schools to make purchasing decisions based on factors beyond the lowest price.

Equitable Support for Farmers and Processors can help overcome systemic issues by boosting producer capacity for school food sales (OR and CA since 2021) or incentivize growing culturally relevant foods (HI). These policies are gaining more attention in states looking to design an inclusive farm to school movement. 

Grant Programs to support farm to school were introduced (WI), awarded for the first time (MA), and some existing programs doubled in size (CT).  

The small purchase threshold was increased to make it easier for local food purchases (NY).

General Awareness bills and resolutions were passed to promote agricultural literacy (NJ), locally grown foods (DE), and Farm to School Month (WI).‍

Farm to school coordinator bills were introduced to establish statewide positions (HI). State funding for regional coordinator positions are becoming more prevalent, with states such as New York, California, and Oregon funding regional coordinators. 

‍School Gardens and Education bills were introduced, aiming to establish grant programs that support school gardens and garden-based education (NY, AZ, NV, and ME).

‍Scratch Cooking funding was secured (NY) and awarded (CA) for the enhancement of kitchen equipment and infrastructure, amplifying the capacity to prepare fresh, locally sourced foods from scratch.

Support for Policy Advocates 

NFSN has created the State Farm to School Policy Handbook in collaboration with the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems, which contains summaries and analysis of bills introduced from 2002-2020. For more up to date information, NFSN also tracks state policies, which can be viewed in our interactive State Policy Map.

You can stay up to date on farm to school policies in 2024 by signing up for NFSN’s newsletters (both weekly and monthly!) and by signing on to become a Partner Organization. Partnering with NFSN is no-cost and provides additional benefits available only to partners. In 2024, we are planning quarterly policy roundtable discussions and policy huddles for shared learning and strategy development. NFSN is also happy to provide legislative testimony and share policy analysis (including predictions and information on legislators) using our software FiscalNote for partners looking to advance mission-aligned bills. Please contact Cassandra Bull (Cassandra@farmtoschool.org) to discuss if these services are a right fit.

Looking Ahead 

We are excited for the policy advancement that lies ahead in 2024. We encourage NFSN members to submit policy information to be featured in our This Week in Farm to School newsletter (email Communications@farmtoschool.org). We are looking forward to:

• Continue our Who’s At the Table? School meals campaign to advance universal free meals policies that value everyone that gets food to the table. Next year, we will work directly with up to eight coalitions to support their work.
• The Farm Bill has been extended through September 2024, increasing the window of opportunity to advocate for NFSN’s Farm Bill Policy Priorities. 
• The Farm to School Act was reintroduced, and at the top of the year we’ll be engaging partners and members to call upon their legislators to support this key legislation.
• The National Healthy School Meals for All Coalition will continue to advocate for federal legislation that makes universal meals a reality for all students and values all the people who bring those meals to the table.
• The USDA Child Nutrition Program Rule Proposals should be updated soon, which many of our Network submitted comments for last May. These changes would allow child nutrition program operators to consider “local” a necessary factor that vendors must meet in a competitive bid.

Thank you again to all advocates and partners who have worked to foster a thriving, just, and resilient future through state and federal policies. We look forward to growing stronger, together in the year ahead! 

National Farm to School Network (NFSN) is excited to announce that we are launching a new phase of our values-aligned universal meals campaign, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Over the next two years, NFSN is establishing direct partnerships with state coalitions that are advocating for universal meals policies, more commonly referred to as “School Meals for All.” We will be serving as an instrument for community power-building among the partner coalitions, while providing direct technical assistance. NFSN will also continue to provide advocacy tools and resources and build public awareness on the need for federal-level values-aligned universal meals policy through storytelling and grassroots engagement. 

Our success with expanding values-aligned universal meals 

Beginning in 2020, NFSN has been advocating for “values-aligned” universal meals. Just as farm to school is a triple win for kids, farmers, and communities, School Meals for All policies can transform the food system as we know it when they value the people who get school food to the table. Since then, we have created many public resources and educational materials on this topic, including tailored advocacy action kits for communities, case studies of successful campaigns, and guides on connecting with policymakers through site visits. 

We have had the pleasure of working with partners who are each working to strengthen the movement and improve the landscape of school meals for all kids—including FRAC, HEAL Food Alliance, FoodCorps, IFAI, and more. You can see the full list of our partners here. 

This movement to increase School Meals for All policies has gained significant momentum and has been successful over the past two years. Currently, eight states have passed permanent policies guaranteeing free school meals for all kids, and two dozen more states have introduced similar bills. It is clear that communities view values-aligned universal meals as a solution, and we are thrilled to be a part of creating this transformation. NFSN is committed to expanding these benefits to reach even more kids, farmers, and communities across the country. 

What we’re doing to continue strengthening the school meals landscape 

Robust coalitions are key in passing School Meals for All policies. They are the experts in their communities and know the nuances of their political climate and needs of their state residents. However, coalitions are often stretched too thin. This new project aims to add capacity to those coalitions through direct technical assistance, including policy and communications support, as well as facilitated networking and learning opportunities among coalitions. Over the next two years, we will be working with eight coalition partners to strengthen the overall school meals policy landscape. Currently, NFSN is thrilled to confirm partnerships with the following coalitions: 

• School Meals for All Connecticut Coalition
• Healthy School Meals for All New York Coalition
• School Meals for All North Carolina Coalition
• Healthy School Meals for All Wisconsin Coalition

“We at the School Meals 4 All Connecticut Coalition are thrilled to partner with NSFN as we work towards the goal of making school meals accessible to all students in Connecticut at no cost. NSFN has been able to help us highlight how the increased revenue from universal school meals allows schools to purchase more local foods, and how this also directly benefits our farmers, especially BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+, and beginning farmers. NSFN is currently gathering data from local farmers for us, and this data will be incredibly beneficial as we educate legislators about the connection between universal school meals and farm to school.” — Jennifer Bove, former Director of Nutrition Services, East Hampton Public Schools

In addition, NFSN will be continuing to offer public advocacy training and resources, communications and storytelling tools, and a revamped resource hub to support advocacy efforts. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media to receive the latest updates. 

‍National Farm to School Network’s ultimate vision for school meals 

Through this campaign, NFSN strives to generate awareness and spur policymaker education at the state and national levels about substantial changes in health outcomes for America's kids. This new phase of the campaign will help build multi-stakeholder capacity to bring about behavior change related to school meals programs. By supporting coalitions to promote policy changes, our work will help establish a just, equitable food system that promotes the health of all school children and benefits farmers, workers, educators, and their communities. 

By Jiyoon Chon, NFSN Communications Manager

Are you currently working to increase local procurement in school meals, expand scratch cooking, or build relationships with community stakeholders? If so, and you’ve been looking for additional funding to support your project, you may be eligible for one of the USDA Healthy Meals Incentives: School Food System Transformation Challenge Grants. 

The National Farm to School Network (NFSN) is honored to directly support three of these grants: PLANTS, Project SCALES, and the Innovation Hub!

Out of these three grants, two are currently accepting applications, with deadlines coming up in about six weeks. Here’s a quick summary of the two active grant opportunities, which are open nationally: 

Partnerships for Local Agriculture & Nutrition Transformation in Schools (PLANTS)

• Administered by the Chef Ann Foundation 
• Deadline: January 22, 2024
• 8 projects will be awarded grants between $500,000 - $600,000. No Matching requirement.
• Funds collaborative projects administered by a group of 3-5 local partners, one of which must be a School Food Authority (SFA).
• Projects must aim to transform school food supply chains and/or build relationships among community-based food system stakeholders and SFAs. For example, this can look like expanding local procurement or scratch cooking in schools. 
• Visit the PLANTS grant webpage here to learn more and apply. 

Supporting Community Agriculture & Local Education Systems (SCALES)

• Administered by Boise State University 
• Deadline: January 26, 2024 
• Up to 35 rural SFAs will be awarded up to $150,000 grants, along with technical assistance.
• Only rural School Food Authorities are eligible to apply during this round of applications.
• SFAs must be engaging in projects to increase local procurement.
• Visit the SCALES grant webpage here to learn more and apply. 

If these two grant opportunities are not a good match for you, a third grant opportunity is opening up on February 1, 2024. These grants are specifically for those in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. 

The Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub Grants: Spark Awards and Innovation Collaborative Awards 

• Administered by the Institute for Public Health Innovation, Illinois 
• Launches February 1, 2024, closes on April 30, 2024 
• Spark Awards fund projects that need a short-term infusion of funds for school food system and marketplace improvements, such as capacity-building, planning, and product testing projects. One year grant cycle, with $10,000 - $75,000 award range. 
• Innovation Collaborative Awards fund projects that promote systems-level change of the school food system and marketplace, such as scaling up of programs, regional partnerships, or new program or product development and integration. Two and a half years grant cycle, with $250,000 awards. 
• Visit the Innovation Hub page here to learn more and stay updated about the upcoming launch. En español. 
  

And finally, Full Plates Full Potential is administering the fourth USDA Transformation Grant—you can learn more about the organization here. They will be opening their grant soon, so stay tuned!

Want to make sure you are updated on the latest farm to school grant opportunities? Make sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter—this is where we share a curated list of the latest events, grant opportunities, policy updates, and job opportunities! 

Earlier this month, the NFSN Racial Equity Learning Lab team and the 2023 cohort members met in-person in New Orleans. The meeting was held in the historic New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and concluded the day at an Edible Schoolyard New Orleans school site, Arthur Ashe Charter School. This in-person session was carefully situated half way through the Lab sessions to further ground participants in the work and cultivate strong relationships with one another. 

The Lab roadmap (curriculum) follows the pattern of seasons. The collective journey began with winter in mind, where cohort members reflected on the historical inequities in the food system and how it may intersect with farm to school activities through pre-work materials. Winter is a time of retreating back–this entails reflection that honors the spirit and mind as part of the collective work in advancing equity in the food system. This shows up in the Lab through the reflections from pre-work materials and collective analysis of how history and social constructs may show up in the current farm to school landscape. Cohort members and NFSN staff delved into the significance of having shared language when doing equity work in the food system through discussions. 

In the second session, they channeled the spring season, where they collectively re-imagined the food system through storytelling activities. For the Lab, spring is all about the headspace and development of foundations where a lot of the re-imagination takes place. Cohort members contemplated a time when their farm to school activity both positively and negatively impacted historically marginalized communities. The collective challenged themselves and participated in story circles (also referred to as sharing or talking circles) which can be traced back to Indigenous practices for sharing knowledge and narratives. 

In addition to the virtual meetings leading up to the in-person meeting, cohort members and the NFSN team also interact with each other through Howspace, which is a digital learning platform. Howspace has been a powerful tool that serves as a continuum between virtual sessions and space for cohort members to engage in various learning materials as well as discussion forums.

The Racial Equity Learning Lab is grounded in the concepts of emergence and non-linear collaboration through the lens of co-creation and co-learning. The in-person session allowed for these theoretical underpinnings to come to life. It was remarkable to see co-creation and co-learning at play in real-time as the collective engaged in individual and group reflections and activities. This in-person meeting focused on channeling the summer season—a time for deepening and strengthening the equity journey through individual and collective work.

One of the cohort members, Pantaleon Florez III, led a group discussion on protecting and uplifting dignity for Indigenous data and how this can be used to promote equitable data collection that is not extractive of communities and promote meaningful program implementation across diverse communities. At the core of this discussion was the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance, which stands for Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, and Ethics. Prior to meeting in-person, cohort members were invited to read the article, Applying the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance to Ecology and Biodiversity Research. The discussion was robust and the collective shared current practices they utilize that upholds data transparency and accountability as well as some of the existing challenges they may see out in the field. 

Moreover, cohort members used their minds and hands as they crafted a collage to express their dream food system then engaged in Appreciative Inquiry as part of action planning. Appreciative Inquiry encourages individuals to ground their thinking in assets and strengths instead of focusing on negative problem identification. The approach begs to ask for the “gifts” that exist and how the solution can be built upon it. The time and space together allowed for the NFSN team and cohort members to get to know each other, share what it means to be committed in the work of building resilient and equitable food systems through farm to school, and share delicious food in New Orleans together. 

The day ended with a brief site visit at Arthur Ashe Charter School where the collective met with the Edible Schoolyard NOLA team to learn about the ways in which they engage the school community through the garden. Zach, Lou, and Liliana talked about all the ways they make the school garden experience inclusive and community oriented, and they even shared the American Sign Language for “watermelon” with the group. 

A sense of community and belonging was cultivated in the in-person meeting. The “gratitude board” included little moments throughout the day that made individuals in the space feel welcome. An individual included their gratitude for one of the cohort members, Stormy Soza, for bringing delicious local treats from Hawaii. The cohort and NFSN team look forward to continuing the rest of the Lab sessions and are energized by the thought of having another meeting like this for the second cohort next fall.