USDA Awards Nearly $20 Million for Farm to School Projects in FY 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded nearly $20 million through the fiscal year 2026 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program, marking the largest single-year investment in the program's history.

According to USDA, the funding will support 68 projects designed to connect local farmers, ranchers, producers and fishers with schools, summer meal programs and childcare settings.

"Without a doubt, farm to school is one of the most powerful ways to Make America Healthy Again by bringing real food back to the heart of America's food culture and onto kids' lunch trays," said Secretary Brooke L. Rollins. "Our historic investment in farm to school projects is a win-win-win for kids, farmers and communities – students are nourished with farm-fresh, nutrient-rich foods; producers access dependable markets through schools; and local economies are strengthened. USDA is committed to putting American agriculture at the center of our nutrition programs and that starts with our children."

What the Program Supports

The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program aims to increase the availability of locally sourced foods in child nutrition programs while connecting students to agriculture through educational activities such as school gardens, taste tests, local procurement and field trips to farms.

USDA said it redesigned the fiscal year 2026 grant program to emphasize large-scale projects and strong partnerships, resulting in the highest number of applicants and the most funding awarded in a single year of the program.

Projects Highlight Local Agriculture

Among the second cohort of grantees is the Jefferson County School District in Mississippi's Delta region. The district plans to establish a comprehensive farm-to-school program by converting underused greenhouses into hydroponic production systems where students will grow vegetables and herbs for school meals. The district also plans to purchase products from four local farms and provide educational farm visits for students.

Another project, the WSBZ Farm to School Implementation Project in Arkansas, will expand farm-to-school practices across all 11 schools in Bryant Public Schools. The project will incorporate Arkansas-grown specialty crops into school menus while increasing student access to locally produced foods and creating additional opportunities for growers in the state.

For farmers and producers, the program can create additional local marketing opportunities through school meal programs and child nutrition initiatives. USDA said the grants are intended to strengthen connections between schools and local agriculture while supporting regional economies.

USDA announced the first cohort of fiscal year 2026 grant recipients in April and has now completed the year's funding cycle.

Since the Farm to School Grant Program launched in 2013, USDA's Food and Nutrition Administration has awarded more than $119 million in grants, supporting more than 1,265 projects across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.