Please sign to add your name to the letter below.

Re: MN Department of Agriculture, Farm to School & Early Care Program  

On behalf of the undersigned farmers, organizations, school food service directors, students, and parents, we urge you to support robust funding for the Farm to School and Early Care program. This program has been critical for expanding market access opportunities across the state, especially for beginning farmers and smaller operators, and getting healthy, local food to our kids in both schools and childcare settings. Not only is it great to see kids enjoy tasty food grown in our state, but Farm to Kids educates kids where their food comes from, it makes the cafeteria a classroom and builds connections between children, schools, and our farmers.  

This program reimburses schools and childcare settings for purchases from local farmers and also provides kitchen equipment grants so grantees can do more scratch cooking. Year after year there is greater demand for this program than funding available. In 2023, there were $5.3 million in requests for the program, and currently the state funds it at $1.29 million.  

Thank you for your work to create a strong agriculture budget for Minnesota's farmers and our communities. Funding this program will help ensure that local foods will continue to be a big part of our local school lunches and fuel local businesses in the process. We hope to count on your support for Farm to Kids!