Funding
available
Ongoing or dedicated money schools can use.
Extra local incentive
Additional reimbursement tied to local purchasing.
Purchasing advantage
A rule that can make local sourcing easier.
Special pathway
A specific USDA purchasing route or vendor system.
Competitive grant
Periodic funding that requires an application.
Start with the programs most schools already use
These are the resources most likely to matter first. Additional state-specific opportunities appear after you select your location.
Funding available
National School Lunch Program
Participating schools receive federal reimbursement for qualifying meals. School food-service resources can be used to purchase qualifying foods, including fresh produce.
What is NSLP?
NSLP is the federal school lunch program. Public schools, eligible charter schools, nonprofit private schools and qualifying residential child care institutions may participate.
Think local: School meal funds can support fresh produce purchases, creating opportunities to source seasonally from farms in your region.
Dedicated produce funding
Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program
Selected elementary schools receive dedicated funding to provide free fresh fruit and vegetable snacks outside regular meal periods.
Who can participate?
Elementary schools must participate in NSLP. States prioritize schools with the highest percentages of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
Putting FFVP funding to work: Seasonal sourcing can help schools offer variety throughout the year while taking advantage of what is freshest from regional farms. Explore local produce options →
Purchasing advantage
USDA local purchasing rules
Schools may use geographic preference and, for qualifying agricultural products, specify “locally grown,” “locally raised,” or “locally caught.”
Does this mean extra money?
No. It is not a funding program. It is a procurement tool that can help schools intentionally source local food.
Think regional: Local procurement can help schools build relationships with nearby farms, shorten the distance food travels, and serve produce closer to peak freshness. See regional sourcing options →
Choose your state to see additional opportunities
After the federal programs above, check what is specific to your state or the District. These are some of the most important differences for schools in the TFA service region.
Extra local incentive
DC local-food reimbursement
DC provides an additional $0.05 per day reimbursement when at least one component of a reimbursable breakfast or lunch is entirely locally grown and unprocessed, subject to program rules and reporting.
Why it matters: this is a true financial incentive for serving qualifying local food.
Make local count: Schools should maintain the farm and sourcing information needed to document qualifying local purchases. Find local produce →
Find options for your school
You do not need to know every USDA acronym. Answer what you can; use “Not sure” where needed. We’ll help identify funding resources, purchasing advantages and local-food opportunities that may apply to your school.
Additional USDA option
You do not need to know every USDA acronym. Answer what you can; use “Not sure” where needed. We’ll help identify funding resources, purchasing advantages and local-food opportunities that may apply to your school.
Special pathway
USDA DoD Fresh
Schools with USDA Foods entitlement may use some of those resources to obtain fresh fruits and vegetables through the DoD Fresh system.
Why is this listed separately?
Schools with USDA Foods entitlement may use some of those resources to obtain fresh fruits and vegetables through the DoD Fresh system.
What is NSLP?
Another way to access fresh produce: DoD Fresh gives schools an additional way to use USDA Foods entitlement for fruits and vegetables.
Competitive grants & future opportunities
Competitive grant
Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants
Periodic USDA grants support farm-to-school projects, local food procurement, education and related infrastructure. These are competitive opportunities, not routine purchasing funds.
TFA can help school partners identify relevant future opportunities and distinguish grant funding from everyday food-purchasing resources.
Ready to put these resources to work?
The Farmers Alliance connects schools with fresh, seasonal produce from farms across our region — bringing products from multiple farms together through one trusted partner. We can work around menu needs, quantities, delivery schedules and procurement requirements.
Funding at a glance
School Food Funding Navigator — a resource from The Farmers Alliance. Program availability and participation are updated as agencies
publish new school-year information.
Request a school consultation
Explore local procurement options
Tell us about your school, your food purchasing needs, and the funding programs or options you’re exploring. We’ll help you identify practical ways to use available resources to provide more fresh, locally sourced food to your students.