The National Center for Appropriate Technology and National Farm to School Network will build on the Bringing the Farm to School training program for agricultural producers, like farmers, ranchers, and fishers. In addition to the information in original trainings, it will help agricultural producers meet schools that want to buy local foods.
USDA awards the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants that support planning, developing, and implementing farm to school programs. The grants are an important way to help state, regional, and local organizations as they initiate, expand, and institutionalize farm to school efforts.
The purpose of Farm to Food Bank Projects is to (a) reduce food waste at the agricultural production, processing, or distribution level through the donation of food, (b) provide food to individuals in need, and (c) build relationships between agricultural producers, processors, and distributors and emergency feeding organizations through the donation of food.
This fact sheet outlines a number of additional resources for those seeking to directly purchase or raise food products for school nutrition programs.
"Food Safety Frequently Asked Questions: The Food Safety Modernization Act and its Impact on Farm to School Activities": This document includes common questions related to food safety when purchasing locally grown and raised food products directly from producers as well as food safety considerations for edible campus gardens.
This fact sheet reviews school farms spanning acres in Minnesota, indoor tower gardens in Vermont, raised beds in New York City, aquaponic systems in the Virgin Islands, and native food gardens in tribal communities.
This fact sheet, available in both English and Spanish, reviews the steps to successfully integrate local food in child nutrition programs.
This factsheet explains how USDA Foods support the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the school meal pattern requirements to make it easier for schools to prepare healthy meals using local foods.
A document with questions and answers regarding the FDPIR Self-Determination Demonstration Project round two funds.
Farm to preschool works to connect early child care and education settings to local food producers with the objectives of serving locally-grown, healthy foods to young children, providing related nutrition education, and improving child nutrition.