California’s Farm to School program now has permanent funding in the 2026–27 state budget, ending its reliance on year-to-year support. Since launching in 2021, the program has invested $86 million in 375 projects benefiting 4.2 million public school students, and state officials marked the milestone at a statewide summit on October 15 in Rancho Cordova.
Key Takeaways
- California secured ongoing funding for its Farm to School Incubator Grant Program in the 2026–27 state budget.
- The program has invested $86 million across 375 projects benefiting 4.2 million California public school students.
- Eighty percent of Farm to School Incubator grantees are Title I schools.
- Every farmer grantee is a small, mid-sized, or socially and economically disadvantaged producer.
- Each $1 invested through farmer grants generates an estimated $2.10 in economic activity.
- California has served about 3.5 billion free school meals since becoming the first state to guarantee free breakfast and lunch to every public school student in 2021.
Permanent Funding Gives the Farm to School Program Stability
California’s Farm to School program started as a line in the 2021–22 budget. Five years later, the state has made it permanent. Ongoing funding in the 2026–27 budget, negotiated with the Legislature, means school districts and farmers can plan beyond a single grant cycle.
That shift matters most for the people the program was built around. A school district rebuilding its kitchen to cook fresh food, or a small farm adding crops for a cafeteria contract, makes multi-year investments. Permanent funding gives both sides a reason to commit.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture runs the program through its Office of Farm to Fork. The Farm to School Incubator Grant Program funds local food purchasing, minimally processed school meals, and hands-on food education for students from early childhood through 12th grade.
Farm to School Grants Concentrate on Title I Schools and Small Farms
The program’s numbers show where the money has gone. Of the $86 million invested, 80% of Incubator grantees are Title I schools, which serve higher shares of students from low-income families. On the supply side, every farmer grantee is a small, mid-sized, or socially and economically disadvantaged producer.
The state estimates that each dollar invested through Farm to School farmer grants generates $2.10 in economic activity, with more food dollars staying in local communities. CDFA Secretary Karen Ross called the investments “a true local development tool,” pointing to benefits for schools, students, and the farms supplying them.
The focus on fresh, minimally processed food fits a broader direction in California food policy, including the state’s move to create a first-in-the-nation label for non-ultraprocessed foods.
Universal Free School Meals Laid the Groundwork
The Farm to School program works alongside California’s universal free school meals policy. In 2021, California became the first state to guarantee free breakfast and lunch to every public school student, regardless of family income. Since then, the state has served about 3.5 billion free school meals.
Universal meals answered the question of who gets fed at school. Farm to School addresses what goes on the tray. Together, the two policies aim to make two free daily meals both widely available and locally sourced.
Soil Born Farms Hosts the Statewide Farm to School Summit
The Farm to School Summit took place at Soil Born Farms, a 55-acre urban farm and education center in Rancho Cordova that teaches young people about growing, cooking, and eating fresh food. First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom co-hosted the gathering with CDFA, the Center for Ecoliteracy, the Alice Waters Institute, the National Farm to School Network, the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, the TomKat Foundation, and The Henry Ford.
Shawn Harrison, founder and co-director of Soil Born Farms, said hands-on experiences in school gardens, on farms, and in kitchens change how children relate to food. The summit also honored school nutrition professionals with California Food for California Kids Leadership and Innovation Awards. Alexa Norstad, executive director of the Center for Ecoliteracy, said the honorees show fresh and local school food is possible at scale, from remodeling kitchens that once served prepackaged food to training staff to cook with fresh ingredients.
FAQs
What Is California’s Farm to School Program?
California’s Farm to School program connects schools with California farmers to bring locally grown food into school meals. It is run by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Farm to Fork and funds projects through the Farm to School Incubator Grant Program.
Are School Meals Free in California?
Yes. In 2021, California became the first state to guarantee free breakfast and lunch to every public school student, regardless of family income. About 3.5 billion free school meals have been served since.
What Are Three Core Elements of a Farm to School Program?
California’s Farm to School Incubator Grant Program supports three areas: buying food from local farms, serving minimally processed school meals, and providing hands-on food education for students from early childhood through 12th grade.
How Much Has California Invested in Farm to School Grants?
California has invested $86 million through the Farm to School Incubator Grant Program, funding 375 projects that benefit 4.2 million public school students. The program now has ongoing funding in the 2026–27 state budget.
Who Receives California Farm to School Grants?
Eighty percent of Incubator grantees are Title I schools, and every farmer grantee is a small, mid-sized, or socially and economically disadvantaged producer.
