Farm to Cafeteria Legislation:
Bringing Healthy Local Food to Kids!

Basics
  • Farm to Cafeteria projects link farms and schools to bring locally-grown food into the school lunch program. Across the country, these projects range from salad bars filled with goods from the farmers market, seasonal items incorporated into lunch menus, school gardens teaching children how to raise healthy food, and farmers educating kids in classrooms or on the farm about the different kinds of apples, tomatoes, and other foods.

  • Section 122 "Access to Local Foods and School Gardens"1 of the Child Nutrition Act of 2004 creates a competitive seed grant fund to create new 'Farm to Cafeteria' projects. These one-time grants cover the initial costs of a Farm to Cafeteria project, including:
    • food procurement
    • storage and cutting equipment
    • staff time and training
    • educational and promotional materials
    • school gardens

  • In 2006, over 300 organizations sent a letter to Congress supporting $5 million to start this program. National organizations included the Community Food Security Coalition, America's Second Harvest, Bread for the World, Congressional Hunger Center, National Family Farm Coalition, and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference.

  • Appropriations are needed to implement this crucial program! On February 6, the President released his budget for fiscal year '07. The appropriations process will start with hearings, meetings, and letters urging support for key programs. By mid-April, Senators and Representatives will be asked to identify their priorities for appropriations--the actual doling out of money. We want Farm to Cafeteria appropriations to be on those priority lists, and we specifically want members of the Appropriations Committees to support funding for Farm to Cafeteria.

What Distinguishes Farm to Cafeteria
  • Local Focus: "Farm to Cafeteria" focuses on bringing locally-grown food into school cafeterias around the country. Local food is typically the freshest possible, and it highlights what foods are grown in a region.

  • One-Time Funding: The grants provide the resources to create financially self-sufficient, long-term Farm to Cafeteria projects.

  • Experiential Nutrition Education: Students learn where their food comes from by visiting farms, growing gardens, and seeing educational displays with their food. This education has been shown to have a direct effect on kids' healthy food choices.

  • Win-Win Benefits for Kids, Farmers, and Communities: Not only does Farm to Cafeteria encourage children to eat healthy, it also benefits independent, typically small-scale farmers. Purchasing directly from local farmers generates more money in the local economy and strengthens community ties.

    • 1The language was originally written in S. 1755 and H.R. 2626, the "Farm to Cafeteria Projects" Act