Resources for School Food
Funding
Oregon Department of Education Farm to School Grant Funds
Non-competitive
The Farm-to-School Program awards non-competitive grants to school districts across Oregon, reimbursing them for buying locally grown and processed food. Any district can opt in, and funding is determined based on the number of meals served under the National School Lunch Program — with a minimum award of $500 for smaller districts.
Competitive
The Competitive Procurement Grant is part of the Farm to School Program and is intended to provide eligible Farm to School grantees with additional funding above their original Farm to School award amount. These funds are derived from a reallocation process in which the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) redistributes unspent Farm to School award dollars from grantees that have determined they are unable to exhaust their original awards.
To be eligible for these funds, applicants must be either a School District, a provider of center-based programs for children in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, or be an entity that provides meals through the Summer Food Service Program. In addition, applicants must have been awarded a Farm to School Noncompetitive Procurement Grant and
1) have spent all of the Noncompetitive funds, or
2) have a zero balance (due to the legislative reduction process)
There are also federal programs and funds available to increase your school district's capacity to purchase Oregon grown fruits and vegetables:
Using DoD funds for local purchases
This fact sheet provides information on how to use USDA DoD Fresh to purchase local foods
USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is an important tool in our efforts to combat childhood obesity. The program has been successful in introducing elementary school children to a variety of produce that they otherwise might not have the opportunity to sample. The various partnerships that FNS and state agencies have developed in the public and private sectors, as well as the dedicated work of school administrators, have contributed to the overall success and acceptance of the program. FFVP is consistent with and supports the Health and Medicine Division (HMD) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s recommendations to provide healthier snack choices in schools
USDA Unprocessed Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program
As part of the 2014 Farm Bill, AMS and the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) are conducting a pilot project in up to eight States to provide more purchasing flexibility and options for unprocessed fruits and vegetables, including minimally processed products such as sliced apples, baby carrots, and shredded lettuce. The Pilot project allows participating states to (1) use multiple suppliers and products established and qualified by the Secretary and (2) designate a geographic preference, if desired.
The goal of the Pilot Project is to develop additional opportunities for schools to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables with entitlement funding, while using pre-existing commercial distribution channels and school relationships with growers, produce wholesalers, and distributors. The pilot supports the use of locally-grown foods in school meal programs using entitlement funds. The pilot requires 100% domestic product.