Farm to School Grant Program

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is seeking applications for the FY 2026 Farm to School Grant Program, which aims to improve access to local foods in Child Nutrition Program (CNP) sites through comprehensive farm to school programming. The program objectives include launching pilot initiatives, incorporating locally sourced meal components, training producers on procurement regulations, improving infrastructure, solving distribution challenges, and integrating agricultural education. Eligible applicants include tribal governments, county and city governments, state agencies, independent school districts, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Evaluation criteria will focus on the degree to which projects serve schools with high free and reduced meal enrollment, demonstrate need and readiness, align with farm to school goals, exhibit strong project design and management, show sustainability, and present an appropriate budget plan. The application deadline is December 5, 2025, with an anticipated award announcement in June 2026.

The grant program will distribute approximately $18 million through roughly 50 awards, with individual grant amounts ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. Grantees must provide a minimum of 25% matching funds and will have a performance period from July 2026 to June 2028. The program offers three distinct grant tracks: Implementation Grants (up to $500,000), State Agency Grants (up to $500,000), and Turnkey Grants (up to $50,000), each designed to support different aspects of farm to school initiatives. Projects will be conducted at various child nutrition program sites across the United States, with a focus on creating sustainable local food procurement and agricultural education programs.