Let’s navigate the local food procurement waters with a compass set towards our K-12 treasure islands. Ready your maps and spyglasses—we’re setting sail to bring local bounty to our schools’ doorsteps!

Local Foods in K-12 Schools

1. The Henry P. Kendall Foundation’s New England Food Vision Prize hoists its flag high with awards up to $1 million for projects boosting local food procurement in educational institutions, including our K-12 schools. This treasure trove supports initiatives that build resiliency and relationships within New England’s food supply chain, fostering collaborations that can include schools, local farms, food hubs, and more. Imagine schools where cafeterias serve as halls of the local harvest, engaging students with the origins of their food.
2. Farm to Institution New England (FINE)’s Farm to School Projects set the course for integrating local foods into school meals, educational activities, and community engagement. FINE’s endeavors, like the “Rooted in Community” project, offer a compass for creating a values-based, community-centric food system. These projects bring local foods into schools and aim to shift institutional power dynamics, enriching our food system with equity and sustainability.
3. USDA’s Farm to School Program plants the flag on the treasure island of K-12 local food procurement. This program fortifies connections between schools and local producers by funding farm-to-school projects across the country, including New England. It’s a plank for students to walk directly into the world of agriculture, learning about food, farming, and nutrition firsthand, enriching their minds and plates.

Your Treasure Map: Key Steps to Enrich K-12 with Local Foods

• Scout for Allies: Forge alliances with local farms, food producers, and community organizations. Collaboration is the compass that guides successful ventures.
• Chart Your Funding Course: Keep a weather eye on the horizon for grant opportunities like those from the Kendall Foundation and USDA. These chests of gold can fund your school’s local food procurement projects.
• Educate Your Crew: Use every opportunity to teach students, staff, and the community about the importance of local food systems. School gardens, cooking classes, and farm visits are treasure maps in their own right, leading to a richer understanding of food and nutrition.
• Navigate the Seas of Policy: Understand local, state, and federal policies influencing school food procurement. Policies are the winds that can propel your ship forward or challenge your journey. Engage with initiatives like FINE’s policy workgroup to navigate these waters.

X Marks the Spot!

So, to all the brave food fund pirates embarking on this journey: may your sails be full and your compass true. Here’s to discovering the rich treasures that local food procurement holds for our K-12 schools!

For those ready to embark on this adventure, chart your course by visiting the websites of the Henry P. Kendall Foundation, Farm to Institution New England, and the USDA’s Farm to School Program to unearth more treasures.