Farm-to-school initiatives build relationships between schools and local farms, support student access to local food, create new opportunities for education and health promotion, and benefit local economies. Increased support at the national level combined with growing state and local efforts has fueled expansion of farm-to-school activities in recent years. These activities align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended strategies for obesity prevention. Hospital support for farm-to-school programming can take the form of financial contributions to fund activities, staff conducting food and nutrition education, and technical assistance to support local purchasing. 

Farm-to-school activity: Widespread and growing

Farm-to-school efforts have increased significantly in the last two decades. In 1998, around 10 farm-to-school programs existed in the United States. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2015 farm-to-school census found that 42 percent of districts surveyed nationwide now engage in farm-to-school activities. Overall, more than 42,000 schools reported involving 23.6 million students in farm-to-school programming. Serving local foods as part of school meals is the most commonly reported activity, and 63 percent of school districts report carrying out three or more farm-to-school activities. Other core activities include holding taste tests or cooking demos, farm field trips, school gardens, and use of “smarter lunchroom” strategies.

• Buying local: More than 77 percent of schools buy local foods as part of their farm-to-school efforts. Buying local requires investments of time and resources. Sourcing local foods can be associated with additional costs which is challenging for schools with limited funds for food service. The additional expenses faced by schools may include equipment to store fresh foods and increased labor to prepare fresh food. However, farm-to-school programs have been found to positively influence student meal participation (increases ranged from 1 to 16 percent across seven studies), which boosts food service revenue. 
• Gardens: Nationwide, 7,101 school gardens offer students hands-on learning experiences and the opportunity to see first-hand where food comes from and are often used in teaching core subjects, such as math and science. Exposure to school gardens has been found to make students more inclined to try new foods and to adopt healthy eating behaviors, namely increased fruit and vegetable consumption.
• Education: Food and nutrition education is a core component of farm-to-school activities. Farm-to-school education takes the form of lessons integrated into core subjects (e.g. math and science), taste tests, cooking demonstrations, enhanced lunchroom strategies, and field trips. Students who participate in farm-to-school activities display increased knowledge of what constitutes healthy eating and also greater understanding of agriculture, the environment, and where food originates. The exposure to new, nutritious foods can prompt students to make healthier choices, influencing long-term dietary patterns and health outcomes. Educational activities also often include outreach to families, which serves to reinforce school-based efforts and further spread information about local foods and healthy eating. For instance, harvest-of-the-month programs, which highlight specific local foods, produce family newsletters and recipes for home use.

Farm viability, economic growth, and community food security

Farm to school creates valuable new markets for local farms and can be a driver for local economic growth. Farm-to-institution sales are an alternative market (others include community-supported agriculture and farmers markets) being pursued by small and mid-sized farms to diversify their customer base and increase their revenue. With new markets comes new opportunities for farms, such as contracting with institutions to grow specific crops. 

The USDA estimates that schools procured $790 million in local food product during 2013-14, and farm to school sales boost individual farmers’ income by five percent (on average). The benefits of farm to school extend into the community. Overall, the USDA estimates that school efforts to buy local may result in a nationwide local economic impact of $1 billion dollars annually, including the creation of additional jobs in the community. By building the local food economy, farm to school also supports greater community food security. 

Farm-to-school activities also offer important social benefits. Farm to school increases the visibility of farms and draws attention to their positive contributions to community and environmental health. Activities carried out as part of farm-to-school programming also enhance community cohesion by creating opportunities for social interactions.
 

Support for farm to school

Financial support for farm-to-school programming comes from federal, state, and local government and community organizations, representing cross-sector interests (public health, education, agriculture, economic development). In many parts of the country, school efforts are supported by state-based organizations, regional, and national networks focused on farm-to-institution and local food system development.

• USDA and federal policy: The USDA Farm to School Program provides support to farm-to-school efforts, including research, grants, and technical assistance. The USDA has numerous grant and loan programs that provide funding to support all aspects of farm to school, including planning, training staff, and purchasing equipment for storing and preparing fresh foods. 
• National Farm to School Network: The National Farm to School Network has more than 15,000 members, curates an extensive collection of resources to support farm to school, and leads advocacy efforts for farm-to-school legislative action.
• State legislation and funding: States provide essential support to farm-to-school programs through legislation and funding. A National Farm to School Network survey found 40 states and Washington D.C. had enacted legislation related to farm to school as of 2014. State farm-to-school legislation is associated with strong farm-to-school programs.
• Food policy councils: Across the country, food policy councils have helped establish and expand farm-to-school activity by securing funds for activities, engaging in research and advocacy, and organizing community support for local efforts. For instance, the Michigan Food Policy Council Institutional Procurement Task Force helped pass the state’s farm-to-school procurement act, which included a pilot project to increase meal reimbursement by providing an extra 10 cents per meal that is dedicated to local product.
   

Recommendations for hospital engagement

Despite significant support for farm-to-school programming and evidence supporting its social, economic, and health benefits, program capacity and funding are ongoing issues for local efforts. Through collaboration with schools and farm-to-school program partners, hospitals can play a role in growing these important initiatives. 

There are multiple opportunities for hospital engagement in farm to school. Through financial investments, staff time, and equipment and materials donations, hospitals across the country are supporting program expansion and increasing capacity. Hospital staff can contribute to the strong food and nutrition education components of farm to school to reach and engage children and families on the importance of healthy eating. Support for farm-to-school initiatives offer hospitals an opportunity to influence the availability of fresh, local food and to support local producers while increasing connections between producers and their community.  

Examples of hospital roles and participation

Learn more

• The USDA Farm to School Census details the level of farm-to-school activity across the country. The site includes a find your district feature, with information on the percent of schools reporting participation, of schools’ local food spend, and of schools with gardens. The USDA website also offers a list of farm-to-school staff contacts, including regional leads. A comprehensive report on the USDA’s Farm to school work can be found here.   
• Ten Facts about Local Food in School Cafeterias is a USDA fact sheet that provides an overview of local procurement considerations and opportunities.
• The National Farm to School Network’s Farm to School Benefit Fact Sheet provides detailed information and resources on the economic, academic, and public health benefits of farm-to-school activities.
• The National Farm to School Network’s website offers information on farm-to-school policy and advocacy issues, including summaries of federal policy and a comprehensive survey report on state legislation and proposals.
•  The USDA’s 2017 report, Daily Access to Local Food for School Meals, examines the prevalence of school districts serving local each day to determine factors that drive or inhibit serving local food. The report includes estimates for availability of local food in different regions.
• Center for Ecoliteracy’s Making the Case for Healthy, Freshly Prepared School Meals outlines the value of farm-to-school programming for students and communities.