Here are some common questions about the Farm to School Full Tray Grant. If you have questions that are not addressed here, please email them to MDA.AGRIGrants@state.mn.us with "Farm to School Full Tray Grant" in the subject line. We will post all questions and answers on this page.
Program questions
- What will be the end date of the grant? This will help us plan for our plan to purchase seasonal produce.
- The grant will begin in January 2023 and end in mid-January 2024.
- Can MDH SHIP funding (or other state or federal funding) be used as the matching funds for the equipment 1:1 match requirement for this grant?
- State and federal funds (including SHIP funds) cannot be used as matching funds. State funds are defined as funds that were obtained through the budgeting process of the Minnesota Legislature or granted by a State agency.
- I work with Family and Consumer Science classes to grow produce to use in our program. Is this something that would qualify for the Full Tray grant?
- Grant funds must be used for the school lunch program. School garden produce is not an eligible expense for this grant.
- We are a school that serves through the NSLP. However, we use a food service management company for our meals, so we do not purchase our own food directly. Are we still eligible to apply for this grant? If so, are there any special considerations we need to make?
- Yes, you are eligible for this grant but will need to show evidence that your school received the benefit.
- I have a Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Farm to School grant. Am I eligible to apply for FY 2023 Farm to School grant funds?
- Yes, you are eligible to apply for the current round of grants. If your previous grant was a First Bite grant, you must apply for a Full Tray grant.
- Can I use this Farm to School grant to purchase Minnesota grown foods for the summer meal program (SFSP)?
- No, FY 2023 Farm to School funds may only be used in school-year meal programs (NSLP & SBP).
- Is this grant only for Federal Food program schools?
- Yes, the grant is intended for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Eligible applicants: Public or private schools or school districts that participate in the NSLP and serve food to K-12 students are eligible to apply. We encourage school districts serving sovereign tribal nations to apply.
- How many Letters of Support are required for the grant?
- For Full Tray grant applications, at least one letter from a producer is required, and a letter from a distributor if you use one. You can also get up to two letters from community partners.
- Letters of support are not required for First Bite grant applications.
- We use a food vendor who manages all the nutritional facts for food served at our school. Would this program be to purchase fresh fruits and veggies on top of food we get from our vendor or would it be to replace the veggie/fruit portion that is already being served?
- This funding would be to source some portion of produce locally, which would mean changing the items served- this could be through a food vendor, directly from a farmer, or through a food hub.
- Would these fruits and veggies still be subject to the standard nutritional compliance?
- Yes, all produce, grains, and proteins purchased through this grant must adhere to the standard nutritional requirements for school lunch.
- By receiving these funds, will it deduct from or lower our reimbursement for meals from the state?
- No, this is additional funding on top of your reimbursement for the lunch program from the state.
- I can buy local 'Red Lake' Wild Rice from our food vendor. Is that okay to buy it from them to be reimbursed through this program?
- Yes, eligible foods can be purchased directly through a farmer, through a food distributor, or through a food hub. As a minimally processed grain, local wild rice would be an eligible item through this grant.
- Can a First Bites applicant apply for the AGRI Equipment Grant?
- Applicants for a First Bite or Full Tray grant may also apply for up to $35,000 to purchase equipment in addition to funds for food. The equipment portion of the grant request must include a 1:1 cash match and support Farm to School initiatives.
- Can I use this grant to purchase local hot dogs?
- Eligible items for reimbursement need to be unprocessed or minimally processed. For purposes of this grant, hot dogs would be considered ineligible since they are processed and often contain fillers or additives. The definition for unprocessed and minimally processed can be found on page 15 of the RFP.
- Do you have a list of farmers participating in this program?
- We do not have a list of farmers that participate since it varies by location of each school. We recommend starting with the MN Grown Wholesale Directory to find local farmers in your area or visiting your local farmers’ market to see if there are any vendors there who would be interested in selling to your school.
- How do the products get to our school?
- This varies between the farmer and the school. Each situation is unique. Often, the farmer will deliver directly to your school. In some instances, the school may pick up directly from the farm. You may also purchase local items through a distributor or food hub.
- I am contacting my vendor today about writing a letter of support and I am wondering what should be included in this letter?
- There is not a set criterion for a letter of support, but the letter from the producer should speak to the partnership between the school and the farm and how this partnership will benefit farm to school.
- Can we apply for more than one item for the equipment grant?
- Yes, it is allowable to ask for more than one piece of equipment. The maximum amount of equipment that an applicant may request is $35,000. There is a 1:1 match requirement for all equipment grants. The source of the match can either be additional local food purchases or 50% of the cost of the equipment.
- Are processing costs eligible for reimbursement under the grant? For example, peeling and cubing butternut squash to be roasted or incorporated into a chili.
- The grant would reimburse for the cost of the squash that arrives peeled and cubed but would not cover staff time by your team to peel and cube the squash. The grant will reimburse for the expense of the food item, but not for the staff to time to prep and prepare it.
- In the webinar, I heard one person say that they buy Ferndale hotdogs. However, looking at the allowed expenses for FY23 funds, I see that hotdogs are not allowed. Can you clarify? Does this also include brats? I was looking into locally made wild rice brats.
- In the past, MDA Farm to School grants prioritized unprocessed or minimally processed food items but allowed for processed items. This year (FY23), processed food items are not eligible for reimbursement due to the parameters of the funding from the USDA.
- For this round of funding, hotdogs are not eligible since they are cooked and processed with fillers. Brats could potentially be eligible if they are uncooked, single-source meat with no fillers included. Reasonable amounts of salt and other seasoning in the brats would be allowed.
- I'm a producer; how can I encourage schools to apply?
- Producers are encouraged to connect with their local school to see if they are interested in applying for either the First Bite or Full Tray grants. The MN Farm to School website has a template email that farmers can use to reach out to schools about this grant. Schools that apply for the Full Tray Grant must include at least one letter of support from a producer who will benefit from their project.
- Does Minnesota-made tofu qualify as an eligible, minimally processed food item?
- Tofu made with soybeans grown in Minnesota could qualify if additional ingredients are within reason to still qualify as minimally processed. For example, water, calcium sulfate, and magnesium chloride would acceptable.
- Do pickled foods qualify as eligible, minimally processed food items?
- Produce grown in Minnesota that are pickled are allowable if additional ingredients are within reason to still qualify as minimally processed.
Food safety questions
- Can schools buy food directly from local farmers?
- Yes! The goal of the Farm to School grant program is to help schools serve more Minnesota grown and raised foods and build relationships in their local community. See the fact sheets below for more information about legal local food purchasing.
- Can schools 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. You can request for the license number to be listed on your invoice.
- My school uses a food service management company for our school meals program. Can we still apply for grant funding?
- Yes! Any school that operates the NSLP is eligible to apply. However, before you apply, please coordinate with your school nutrition department staff and other food service management company staff to ensure they are aware of and can follow through with the grant deliverables.
- What are the legal requirements for purchasing local food?
- The Food Safety Requirements for Farmers (PDF) factsheet from the Minnesota Department of Education provides a brief overview of what you need to know about legal requirements for buying local food and how farmers meet food safety requirements.
- 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 in Minnesota.
Farm to School technical assistance office hours
The Minnesota Farm to School Leadership Team hosts technical assistance office hours on the second Wednesday of each month, 2:30-3:30 p.m. on Zoom. Join these virtual calls to discuss and find answers to your questions related to Farm to School and local food purchasing.
