National Farm to School Network

National Farm to School Network will be at next week's Farm to Institution New England Summit—will we see you there? Join Cassandra Bull, our Policy Specialist, along with Lihlani Nelson from the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems, for a session on farm to school legislative trends. 📈 This session will present a deep dive into farm to school (F2S) policy with an introduction to the new edition of National Farm to School Network and Vermont Law and Graduate School’s State F2S Policy Handbook. After learning about recent policy trends, participants will have an opportunity to connect with F2S advocacy leaders in their states, explore emerging policy topics, and develop actionable strategies to advance healthy regional food systems. Learn more at www.f2isummit.org.

Black agricultural and food businesses in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania—check out this funding resource from the Black Farmer Fund!

Currently ongoing federal policy changes, like the USDA’s termination of Local Food for Schools and Child Care funding and the FY25 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program, are making it harder for schools to source fresh, local food and for farmers to connect with their communities. In times like these, our work is more crucial than ever. National Farm to School Network is committed to defending our policy wins and pushing for solutions that strengthen local food systems, support farmers, and ensure every child has access to nourishing meals—but we can’t do it alone. Your support fuels this work. With your donation, we can continue to lead, educate, and mobilize for a future where farm to school isn’t just an option but a reality for every community. Now more than ever, every dollar counts. 💌 Join us in sustaining this movement by making a gift today: https://lnkd.in/ggpV8WM7

"The money [for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program], in the grand scheme of government funding, was small. $5 million dollars is a drop in the bucket for the USDA, but it was making huge impacts in communities, and especially rural communities,” said Sunny Baker, Senior Director of Programs and Policy at NFSN. “This is gonna mean not just that kids are not gonna have the same access to school food, to local school food, to school garden work, it’s really gonna have these rippling implications for the future of the local food movement in our country and food security.” Read the full article featuring our Senior Director of Programs and Policy, Sunny Baker, here: https://lnkd.in/egzrbThq

As many of you are already aware, this week, USDA announced the cancellation of the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program for fiscal year 2025. This grant program would have provided $10m to help schools and early care and education centers incorporate local foods, nutrition education, and garden activities into their programs. ➡️ Read our latest blog post to learn more about this announcement: https://lnkd.in/emqg6gmg Here are actions you can take right now to speak up against these cancellations: ‼️ Tell us how you are impacted by the cancellation of the grant program, or if you are having any issues with funds granted in FY 2024 or earlier here: https://lnkd.in/ewpTg44g ‼️ Sign our Petition to reinstate the grant program and Local Food for Schools and Child Care funding; https://lnkd.in/e7jwikCe ‼️ Contact your legislators with our Action Alert: https://lnkd.in/eFx3SsDW We are extremely dismayed at this announcement. We know this news is difficult, especially coming after the news of the Local Food for Schools and Child Care (LFSCC) cancellations for round two. NFSN is currently working with legislators to find out more, connecting with our partners for a unified response, and providing up to date information to our network. Share this post widely to encourage others in your network to take action!

NEW RESOURCE: The State Farm to School Policy Handbook: 2002-2023 offers a comprehensive overview of every state #farmtoschool bill since 2002, analysis of trends, case studies, policy resources & more. Co-authored by National Farm to School Network & Center for Agriculture and Food Systems. 🔍📊 Explore the handbook & database now! https://lnkd.in/e96R9wpM

🌱 Local food for schools isn’t just a meal—it’s an important investment for farmers and students alike. In a recent article for The Guardian, NFSN's Senior Director of Programs and Policy, Sunny Baker, explores the vital role of the Local Food for Schools Program and the significant impact of its recent funding cuts. “When schools purchase directly from farmers, 100% of every dollar goes to farmers. And now a program that provided critical support has been canceled in the name of government efficiency.” With $1 billion in funding cuts, this essential program is currently in jeopardy, threatening small farmers' livelihoods and leaving school districts scrambling to provide fresh, healthy meals. The piece highlights how community-based food systems are key to not just feeding kids, but also supporting American farmers, especially in rural areas. It’s a reminder of the need for strong, sustainable investments in the food systems that serve our children and communities. 👉 Read the full article: https://bit.ly/4iEgDxq

📢 Momentum for farm to school policy continues to grow! Over the past few years, we’ve seen incredible growth in farm to school and universal school meal policies across the US. We just launched the newest edition of the State Policy Handbook and Database with the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law and Graduate School, which demonstrates this growth: https://lnkd.in/e96R9wpM Here’s a snapshot of where we stand: ✅ 809 farm to school bills and resolutions introduced since 2002 across 48 states, DC, and two US territories. ✅ 45 states, DC, and two territories have successfully passed farm to school policies. ✅ 296 bills related to farm to school were introduced between 2021-2023 alone—more than a third of all bills introduced in the past two decades. ✅ Universal school meals are gaining ground: Since 2021, 32 states have introduced 86 bills, and 8 states (CA, CO, ME, MA, MI, MN, NM, VT) now have permanent programs in place. ✅ Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) is growing—18 states introduced 39 farm to ECE-related bills between 2021-2023, making up 13% of all farm to school legislation. We also found that policy is increasingly supporting: 🍎 Local food purchasing incentives to help schools buy fresh, local foods. 💼 Workforce protections for the child nutrition professionals who keep meal programs running. 🏫 Kitchen infrastructure funding to improve meal prep capacity and bring scratch-cooked, high-quality food to school cafeterias. The momentum is real, but we’re also navigating an uncertain policy landscape. With shifting priorities at the federal level, state-level work is more important than ever. Farm to school and ECE policies have a proven track record of benefiting all kids, farmers, and local economies. By strengthening local coalitions, advancing smart state policies, and working together across sectors, we can ensure this progress continues. Check out the new edition of the Handbook here: https://lnkd.in/e96R9wpM What farm to school policy changes are you seeing in your state? Let’s discuss in the comments! ⬇️

🚨 School meals & farm to school programs are currently at risk. Join us this Tuesday for a critical discussion on the federal policy shifts that impact school meals for all, farm to school, and early care & education (ECE) programs. We’ll break down: ⚠️ The termination of USDA’s Local Food for Schools & Child Care program ⚠️ Proposed changes to the National School Lunch Program’s Community Eligibility Provision and income verification process ⚠️ Proposed cuts to SNAP that could affect farm to ECE efforts Hear from expert panelists Sandy Curwood, Ada Ngoddy, & Lindsay Aguilar on what this means for school nutrition, local food sourcing, and meal access. 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/ewx8rtYg

📢 New Dates, Even Bigger Impact! 🌱✨ The 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference is moving to December 2-5, 2025 in Albuquerque, NM—this important date change will give us the opportunity to make this gathering even more dynamic, engaging, and impactful! Why the change? We’re committed to ensuring this conference remains a powerful space for learning, networking, and collective action in the farm to institution movement. With this additional time, we are: ✅ Responding to the moment: We know many in our movement are navigating stretched capacities, and we want this space to be valuable and energizing. ✅ Rallying the movement for collective impact: We are responding to the current need for action. By bringing together leaders across the farm to institution movement, we are strengthening programming, amplifying more voices, and creating a space for cross-sector collaboration to drive lasting impact. ✅ Enhancing accessibility: Moving to December means more flexibility for attendees, including producers who may have had scheduling conflicts during the busy planting and harvest season. What to expect: 🎓 Scholarships available April 1, 2025 🗓️ Registration opens June 2025 📢 RFP submissions remain under review—if you’ve submitted and need to update your status, please email passion@farmtoschool.org. 🔗 Stay updated with the latest at https://lnkd.in/dysXdXP The momentum for farm-to-institution work has never been more critical. Mark your calendar, spread the word, and get ready for a transformative experience.