Resources for Child Nutrition

Funding your farm to school program

While the benefits of connecting students with fresh, local foods are clear, identifying the right grant opportunities can feel overwhelming. Oregon is a national leader in Farm to School funding. The state offers both non-competitive and competitive grants to help school nutrition programs purchase local food and understanding how to use them strategically makes all the difference.

The key to success is leveraging all pots of funding towards supporting local farmers for long term sustainability. Meal programs that utilize farm to school programs report an increase of support from the community and parents, increased student meal participation, and see less plate waste.

fruits and veg (1)
a new way to think about local purchasing

How to Make Your Grant Dollars Last

The ODE Farm to CNP Reimbursement Grant for Oregon Foods can be used to cover the full cost of local food purchases. However, the intent of the legislation that created this funding was to offset the additional cost of buying local — not to be your only source for local purchasing. We encourage schools to start building local food into their regular food budget, then use the grant to offset the price difference between local and non-local products. When used as intended, your grant dollars stretch further and local food stays on your menu all year long — not just until the funding runs out.

The Carrot Example

Full Cost Approach

Local carrots cost $3.00/lb

You buy the local carrots and charge the entire $3.00 to the grant.

Once the grant is spent, you stop buying local and switch back to non-local.

$3.00
grant spent per pound
As Intended

Non-local carrots cost $2.00/lb

Local carrots cost $3.00/lb

You pay $2.00 from your general food budget, charge only the difference to the grant

$1.00
grant spent per pound

Same carrots, 3× the purchasing power. When you use your regular food budget for the base cost and reserve grant funds to offset the price difference, you should be able to purchase local food throughout the entire school year.

The takeaway: Try purchasing local food through your regular food budget first, then use the Farm to CNP grant to reimburse only the cost difference between local and non-local. This stretches your grant dollars across the entire school year.
Recurring Grants

Funding Sources for Oregon Schools

These grants and programs support local food purchasing in Oregon's child nutrition programs. Your regional procurement coordinator can help you navigate applications and maximize your awards.
Stretch Your Dollars

Additional Funding Tips

  • ✦ Stack your funding — Combine the noncompetitive grant with DoD Fresh, FFVP, the Unprocessed F&V Pilot, and competitive grants to maximize your local purchasing power.
  • ✦ Track the price difference — Keep records of both conventional and local prices for each product. This documentation is required for reimbursement and helps you plan future budgets.
  • ✦ Start with high-impact swaps — Some local products cost only slightly more than conventional. Start there for the biggest volume with the least grant spend.
  • ✦ Plan seasonally — Time your local purchases to peak harvest when prices are lowest and quality is highest. Use Harvest of the Month as your guide.
  • ✦ Connect with your regional procurement coordinator — They can help you identify the best funding mix for your district and walk you through the reimbursement process. Find yours here.