USDA Farm to School Census Results Released


Last Updated: October 23, 2013
 

According to the US Department of Agriculture’s first-ever Farm to School Census, in school year 2011-2012, schools participating in farm to school activities purchased and served over $350 million in local food, with more than half of participating schools planning to purchase even more local foods in future school years. The Farm to School Census highlighted important strides made in offering healthy, local food to millions of school children through USDA’s Farm to School program, and emphasized the program’s role in creating economic opportunity for America’s farmers and ranchers.

The USDA’s Farm to School Program is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which authorized USDA to assist eligible entities, through grants and technical assistance, to improve access to local foods in schools. It is also a core element of the USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative, which coordinates the Department’s work on local food systems. In mid-November, USDA will announce approximately $5 million in FY2014 Farm to School grants to help school districts across the country further develop their farm to school programming.

For a brief synapsis of the Farm to School Census, please go to: Farm to School Census National Overview

To find out how your state responded to the census, please visit: Find your State in the Farm to School Census