The USDA Farm to School Program: Growing Our Future

Family, let’s talk about the USDA Farm to School Program.

Farm to School connects children with fresh food, nearby farmers, school gardens, and hands-on lessons. It is not just about putting a local tomato on a lunch tray. It helps children learn where food comes from and why the people who grow it matter.

The numbers tell a real story

In the USDA’s 2023 Farm to School Census, 11,803 school food authorities took part. Together, they reported spending about $1.8 billion on local food during the 2022–2023 school year. That was about 16% of their total food spending.

That money can help farmers, ranchers, fishers, food makers, and local communities. It also gives children a closer look at food before it reaches the plate.

Why this matters to us

Too many communities have been cut off from fresh food, land, and good growing knowledge. Farm to School can build another door to food.

A school garden lets a child plant a seed, watch it grow, taste the harvest, and understand the work behind it. Local buying can also give small growers a chance to build steady relationships with schools.

That is food sovereignty in plain language: people having more say in how their food is grown, shared, and taught.

How you can move this work forward

• Ask your child’s school what local food it buys.
• Ask whether the school has a garden or food lesson.
• Connect a nearby farmer with the school nutrition team.
• Invite children to grow one crop at home or in class.

You do not need 20 acres to teach a child how food grows. Start with a pot, a raised bed, or one sunny corner. Grow with what you got.

Read the latest numbers at the USDA Farm to School Census. When you are ready to plant, shop seeds from Plant and Heal.

One school. One garden. One child at a time. That’s movement.