School Food Service
Why Farm to Kids Matters in the Cafeteria
Food service professionals play a key role in Farm to Kids by helping bring fresh, local foods into school meals that students enjoy and trust. Their participation supports local farmers, improves food quality, and helps students build healthier eating habits.
How Do I Start or Expand a Farm to School Program in my District?
Farm to Kids
The Minnesota Department of Education Farm to Kids shares how schools and early care programs across Minnesota are bringing more local foods, gardening, and agriculture education to kids.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture offers grants to help local schools and childcare centers buy and serve fresh, Minnesota-grown food.
Tools from the University of Minnesota Extension to bring local food into school meals and learning environments.
How Can I Plan School Menus Around Local, Seasonal Ingredients?
The Lunch Box provides recipes and menu ideas designed for school cafeterias and meal programs.
This guide celebrates seasonal foods and offers tips for using local produce throughout the year.
Where Can I Find Recipes Featuring Local Foods?
This collection shares free farm to school recipes developed by the Chef Ann Foundation.
Collection of recipes highlighting Minnesota-grown ingredients suitable for school and early care settings.
Updated school-friendly recipes designed to meet nutrition standards while incorporating local foods.
Resources that support scratch school food or cooking and stronger connections between students, nutrition, and local communities
Connect with Farmers
Local Vendor Directories
How to find local vendors, direct contact resources, map links.
Map of Wholesalers in MN.
Farmers Market Hub is an online directory that helps finding farmers markets and local food vendors across the country.
Food Hubs
Information on food hubs that aggregate local products, making purchasing easier for schools and institutions.
Sprout MN supports local farmers and food businesses by helping them grow and succeed.
The Good Acre works to connect farmers, food buyers, and communities through collaborative food projects and markets. It supports regional growers by creating pathways to sell their products and build strong local food networks.
Procurement
Procurement guides, how to buy from local farmers, templates, purchasing regulations.
Includes templates for obtaining quotes, farmer invoice template, compliant with the USDA guide.
Short videos showcasing successful Farm to School procurement and partnerships.
School Nutrition Requirements
Food Safety Requirements for School Nutrition Programs from the Minnesota Department of Education.
Fact sheets to help understand the key points when selling and buying local foods.
Use the food safety tree to view allowable practices when purchasing local shell eggs, meat and poultry.
Communicating with Farmers
Food Safety
Extension web page to help food service operations start conversations with local farmers.
Legal Guidelines
School Nutrition Programs are allowed to procure and serve locally grown foods. When buying products directly from a farm for your food service operation, it is important to know the food safety requirements that farmers must follow.
Required food safety training, guidelines for purchasing, links to state certification requirements.
Food Safety Questions to Ask Your Farmer from the Minnesota Department of Education.
Wellness Policy Requirements for School Meals
Wellness Policy
Resources from the Minnesota Department of Education for school meal programs and wellness efforts.
