Kids may love to complain about school lunches, but there’s a lot that goes into making them healthier, nutritious, and tied to local farmers. October is National Farm to School Month, and there’s a lot to celebrate. 67,000 schools now have farm-to-school programs through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In fact, this summer, the USDA announced it awarded a record-breaking $14.3 million in farm-to-school grant funding, and in 2024 alone, new grants supported 54 projects in 43 states, DC, Guam, and Puerto Rico, helping nearly 2 million school children.
For over 20 years, schools across the nation have embraced the farm-to-school idea as a practical way to include local, nutritious, and culturally relevant foods in school meals while creating economic opportunities for local producers. Farm-to-school programs are popular across the country, in districts large and small, urban, and rural. and these efforts keep dollars in the local economy, support local jobs, and connect children with the farmers that feed them. USDA Undersecretary Jenny Lester Moffitt discusses National Farm to School Month.
