Congratulations! You’ve been awarded an AGRI Farm to School and Early Care Grant. Here are some helpful resources for you to use as you complete your project.
Grantee resources
- AGRI Awardee Communications Guide (PDF): Use these tips for spreading the word about your project. The guide includes the MDA logo and branding information, special media tips, press release templates, and more. You can also request a free AGRI Program window cling by calling the AGRI Grants Line at 651-201-6500.
- Bidding Requirements: Review this information to understand the rules that apply to your entity.
- Reimbursement Guide (PDF): When you're ready to submit your project expenses, follow the steps in this guide to request your payment. Contact us if you need additional help.
Farm to School and Early Care resources
- Regional Local Food Coordinators: These trained coordinators support all efforts to implement and expand farm to school and early care throughout Minnesota - whether you're a farmer, a school or early care, or a community advocate.
- Farm to School webinars: Watch recordings on planning local school menus, selling to schools, food safety, etc.—plus find information on many other resources across the state.
- Minnesota Harvest of the Month: This program celebrates an in-season, locally-grown food item each month in K-12 schools. Explore recipes, K-12 lesson plans, posters, stickers, and more!
- Minnesota Grown Wholesale Directory: Looking for local foods fresh from Minnesota Grown farms? If you represent a restaurant, school, grocer, co-op, or other wholesale account, use this directory to find local farmers and producers.
- Minnesota Farm to Kids Strategic Plan: 2025-2030: Developed collaboratively by partners across the state, this plan is a 5-year roadmap for advancing local procurement and agricultural education in K-12 schools and early care settings.
- Farm to School in Minnesota: 2023 Survey of MDA Farm to School Grantees: This report from the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy collected key data on activities being implemented, challenges, opportunities for growth, and feedback on needed support to grow Minnesota's Farm to School movement.
Farm to School and Early Care technical assistance office hours
Join the Minnesota Farm to Kids Alliance and other stakeholders for these virtual discussions held on the second Wednesday of each month from 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Connect, learn, and ask questions about Farm to School and Early Care, including local food purchasing, school gardens, and agricultural education. There are monthly themes to help guide the conversation, but you're welcome to bring any questions or topics to the group.
Sign up for monthly office hours. You'll receive a confirmation email with information about joining each monthly meeting.
Food safety
Here are some commonly asked questions about buying local food—and resources to ensure that the food you buy has been handled using best food safety practices.
Can schools, ECE centers, or family child cares buy food directly from local farmers?
- Yes! The goal of the Farm to School and Early Care grant program is to help schools, ECE centers, and family child cares serve more Minnesota grown and raised foods to students and children and build relationships in their local community. See the fact sheets below for more information about legal local food purchasing.
Can schools, ECE centers, or family child cares buy from a local food hub or aggregator?
- Yes. An aggregator is an entity that combines and distributes products from multiple farmers. Aggregators need to have a food handler license from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Ask them to list their license number on your invoice.
What are good food safety questions to ask farmers?
- Having a conversation with a farmer is a great way to learn about their food safety practices and ensure the produce you receive is grown, harvested, and packaged using best food safety practices. The resources below have a list of questions you can ask farmers and helpful things to listen for when having a conversation:
I am ready to learn about buying local. Where can I find more information, resources, and support?
- There are several agencies and organizations that collaborate to support Farm to School and Early Care in Minnesota.
