Fiscal Year 2017 Farm to School Grant Program Request for Applications Now Available
USDA Food and Nutrition Service has released the request for applications (RFA) for up to $5 million in grant funds to further USDA efforts to increase locally sourced foods in America’s school meals. “Bringing the bounty of America’s farms into schools and onto breakfast and lunch trays is one of the best ways we can ensure students are receiving nutritious and delicious meals at school,” said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Supporting these programs through the annual Farm to School Grants is a win-win for America’s schools, farmers, producers, communities, and children.” Visit the grants homepage for more information.
Colorado Farm to School Resources
- Colorado Farm to School
- Colorado Produce Calendar
- Colorado Task Force: Road Map
- Colorado Farm to School Task Force 2015 Legislative Report (Colorado Farm to School Task Force Website)
- Colorado Farm to School Task Force 2014 Update
- Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food - Every Family Needs a Farmer!
- 2016 Farm to School Webinar Series
- Boulder Valley Farm to School Manual
- Boulder Valley Garden Manual
- Food Safety from Farm and Garden to Preschool (UMassAmherst)
- Farm to School Bid Template
- Map of Schools Utilizing Farm-to-School
USDA Farm to School Resources
- 2016 Farm to School Webinar Series
- Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food - Every Family Needs a Farmer!
- Farm to School Fact Sheets
- Farm to School Policy Memos
- Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs
- USDA Farm to School
- USDA School Garden Questions and Answers
Colorado Farm to School Coordination Task Force Duties
- Creating or expanding Farm-to-School pilot programs
- Identifying funding sources and grants that allow school districts to recover costs from purchasing locally grown foods
- Identifying, designing, or making available training programs to enable local farmers and ranchers to market their products to school districts
- Advising school districts on the methods by which they may improve their facilities to allow for the purchase and use of locally produced foods in school meals
- Providing assistance to school food services to establish procedures, recipes, menu rotation, proper handling, and storing to accommodate the use of locally grown foods in public schools.
2015 Farm to School Census
- Preliminary 2015 Farm to School Census results available now!
- Overall, the survey response rate was 60% with more than 10,900 public, private and charter school districts responding. In school year 2013-2014, schools purchased and served over $598 million in local foods, an increase of approximately $212 million, or 55%, from previous estimates.
- Additionally, 75% of schools participating in farm to school activities in school year 2013-2014 enjoyed at least one of the following benefits such as reduced food waste, lower school meal program costs, greater acceptance of the new meal pattern, increased participation in school meals or greater community support.
- To find your school, start at Find Your School District and then use the search boxes in middle of the webpage to find your district.
- Previous USDA Farm to School Census results are found at http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/census#
Legislation
- Senate Bill 10-081
- Senate Bill 10-081, in recognition of the need to encourage the eating of fresh and nutritious local foods, the fostering of relationships among farmers and schools, and the promotion of the sale of agricultural products, establishes the Farm-to-School Program. This bill also allows for the creation of a Farm-to-School Coordination Task Force.
- House Bill 1307
- Under HB 1307, governmental bodies purchasing agricultural products are allowed to preference Colorado products over out of state products as long as the quality is equal, the Colorado producer is able to meet requested quantity, and price is either lower than the lowest out of state bid, or "reasonably exceeds" the lowest bid.
For additional information, E-Mail: nutrition@cde.state.co.us
