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October is Farm to School and Early Care Month, a time to celebrate food education, school gardens, and lunch trays filled with healthy, locally sourced foods from Minnesota’s producers.

In recognition of this month, today the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) unveiled the state’s first-ever Farm to Kids Strategic Plan. Developed collaboratively by Farm to School and Early Care partners across Minnesota, this plan is a 5-year roadmap for advancing local procurement and agricultural education in K-12 schools and early care settings.

Using insights collected from robust stakeholder engagement with producers, school food service professionals, educators, early care providers, youth, and other members of the public, the Farm to Kids Strategic Plan outlines specific goals, strategies, and actions for future Farm to School and Early Care efforts. The high-level priorities of the plan include:

• Increase purchases of Minnesota-grown and -raised foods by schools and early care settings.
• Improve integration of food and agricultural education in classrooms, cafeterias, and other educational environments.
• Build and activate a strong Farm to Kids network to foster shared, collaborative leadership among Farm to School and Early Care partners.

“For over a decade, state agencies, institutions, and organizations have been working together to support and expand participation in Farm to School and Early Care programs within Minnesota,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “We thank all partners — including producers, school staff, and early care providers — for successfully bringing more local foods to students, and we look forward to further progress thanks to the steps outlined in the new Farm to Kids Strategic Plan.”

“Kids who receive nutritious foods at school are kids who are ready learn and grow,” said Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Willie Jett. “By connecting our youngest learners with fresh, locally grown foods, we’re not only fueling their bodies but also planting the seeds for a lifetime of healthy choices. This program is about more than what’s on the plate — it’s about building stronger communities and ensuring that Minnesota’s children thrive both in and out of the classroom.”

The MDA will host two free webinars via Microsoft Teams to provide an in-depth overview of the strategic plan for interested members of the public, scheduled for:

• Thursday, October 24, 3-4 p.m.
  Register for this event.
• Tuesday, October 29, 6-7 p.m.
  Register for this event.

To review the full Farm to Kids Strategic Plan and learn more about Farm to School and Early Care in Minnesota, visit the MDA website.

Partners in developing and implementing the plan include the Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Department of Health, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Land Stewardship Project, Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, University of Minnesota Extension, and additional members of the Minnesota Farm to School Leadership Team and Minnesota Farm to Early Care Advisory Group.

The development of the Farm to Kids Strategic Plan was funded by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant received by the MDA.

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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us

Registration is now open for the 2025 Minnesota Organic Conference, an annual statewide conference that highlights organic agricultural practices.

Hosted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), the two-day conference will take place January 9 and 10, 2025, at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud.

The event will feature keynote speakers and more than 30 breakout sessions providing educational opportunities in areas like organic crop production, dairy, livestock, fruits and vegetables, marketing, and business. Attendees will also have access to an 80-booth trade show featuring information about relevant products and services.

The keynote speakers for this year’s conference include:

• Tom Cotter, a fourth-generation farmer and active member of the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition. Cotter started planting cover crops in 1998, which helped him transition a third of his acres to organic cash crops and grass-fed beef. He was recently named a finalist for the inaugural Minnesota Leopold Conservation Award.
• Mark Schiller and Simeon Rossi are the co-founders of Loon Liquor Company, an organic microdistillery in Northfield, Minnesota, crafting delicious spirits from organic, local suppliers. They recently won the Food, Ag, and Beverage Division of the 2024 MN Cup, a startup competition for entrepreneurs.

Early-bird pricing is currently available for those who register by December 2, after which prices will increase. Two-day, one-day, and student registration options are available. Full pricing details can be found on the Minnesota Organic Conference webpage.

For more information, visit the MDA's website.

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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us