The 2023 Farm to School Census Findings FAQs addresses commonly asked questions about the Farm to School Census.
USDA Foods are foods purchased from American farmers, dairies, ranchers, and fisheries to support federal nutrition assistance programs and American agriculture.
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.
Factsheets are available under the following topics: Farm to School Grant Program, Farm to School Program Resources, Local Food Resources, School Gardens, Farm to School in Tribal Communities, Food Safety, Producers, Farm to Preschool. Farm to Summer, State Agencies and Cooperative Extensions, En Español.
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.
The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program team is spread across seven regional offices and the national office in Alexandria, Virginia. For resources and information pertinent to your geographic area, please contact the relevant regional contact.
The Restaurant Meals Program is a state option to allow certain SNAP clients, who might not be able to prepare meals for themselves or who do not have permanent housing for storing and preparing food, to be able to buy prepared meals at restaurants with their SNAP benefits.