| | | | | | | | Local Food for Schools report examines USDA federal funding impact |
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| | In a newly released report on the Local Food for Schools (LFS) program – the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) $200 million investment in funding for school meals to strengthen local food supply chains – the Center for Good Food Purchasing examines the utilization and impact of LFS funding.
Based on results of a survey completed by 112 school districts across 17 states, as well as a detailed case study from Oregon, the report details how the LFS federal funding was allocated by states to rural, suburban, and urban school districts and utilized to support local purchasing across 11 food categories.
Local Food for Schools funding was found to expand student access to fresher, higher-quality foods and greater menu variety in schools, leveraging existing school meal infrastructure for multiple public benefits. Farmers and food businesses gained access to reliable institutional markets, strengthening local economies and the resiliency of food systems to better serve communities. |
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| | | This report was made possible by the Federal Good Food Purchasing Coalition.
For more information on the 2026 Local Food for Schools Report, contact Amy Nelms, Policy Manager, at anelms@goodfoodpurchasing.org. |
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| | Good Food for Michigan project launches at ValleyHUB celebration |
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| | | The Good Food for Michigan collaborative project officially kicked off at an event celebrating ValleyHUB Food Hub’s decade of achievement at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
Hosted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) in collaboration with Good Food for Michigan partners, the innovative ValleyHUB partnership was highlighted as a successful model that has inspired the Good Food for Michigan project to further expand access to locally grown foods across the region.
“ValleyHUB is building a healthy and sustainable food system in southwest Michigan,” said Alexa Delwiche, executive director at the Center for Good Food Purchasing. “We look forward to creating similar projects across the state that strengthen local supply chains and help more schools, hospitals and organizations to buy nourishing, values-aligned, Michigan-grown products.” |
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| | | | | | | Unpacking the House Farm Bill: Part 1 of 4 |
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| | In the first in a four-part blog series analyzing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, which was reported out of the House Agriculture Committee on March 5, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) provides an overview of the markup process and the bill as a whole, as well as its likely (or unlikely) path to becoming law. Subsequent posts from NSAC provide a deep dive analysis of the bill’s potential impacts on the farm safety net, local and regional food systems, and conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable and organic research.
“A single farm bill – as important as it is – cannot solve everything. Yet a single farm bill can set us on a better path. Judged within the inseparable context of this moment, FFNSA includes some promising provisions but ultimately falls short, choosing to double down on an agricultural system that simply is not working, rather than making real strides toward a system that does.” |
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| | | | | | | | Check our Policy Page for updates on issues
related to Good Food policies and legislation. |
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| | Inside the GFPP Ecosystem: Updates, New Resources & Upcoming Events |
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| | Northwest Food Hub Network Summit gathers change leaders in Spokane, WA |
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| At the Northwest Food Hub Network Summit at Gonzaga University, Colleen McKinney, Chief Ecosystem and Strategy Officer, gathered with food hub leaders, local food businesses, and advocates to collaborate on strengthening the network’s regional food system and build connection and shared learning across food hubs nationwide.
In addition to in-depth conversations and workshopping in regional breakout groups, the summit featured an exploration of 2025 National Food Hub Survey findings presented by Dr. Jude Barry from Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, a look at a Montana Marinara partnership that utilized locally produced USDA commodity tomatoes to develop a popular new school food item, and highlights from the Washington Superintendent’s Office of Public Instruction on expanded usage of Washington products through the WA Farm to School Program. |
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Colleen also participated in one of six local summit farm, food hub, and facility tour options, visiting De Leon Foods Tortilleria, a 20-year-old business with a longstanding focus on products for restaurants and retail. The company recently entered the K-12 market with support from a farm to school team in one of the state’s educational service district. De Leon Foods Tortilleria now supplies flour tortillas, made with locally grown and milled wheat, to local schools through the LINC food hub and would like to expand their farm to school distribution to serve more schools with more products. |
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| | | City of Austin hosts inaugural Milan Urban Food Policy Pact Regional Forum |
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| At the first-ever Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) Regional Forum, city representatives and food policy leaders gathered in Austin, Texas, to embark upon a new chapter for food policy in North and Central America.
Senior Analyst Bella Steinhauer represented the Center while participating in two days of peer-to-peer learning, inspiration, and working groups diving into the six key areas of the MUFPP framework. Bella returned to the Center with fresh ideas on how MUFPP alignment and Good Food Purchasing Program support can drive action across transformative networks, as well as enthusiasm for uplifting and building from the successes of leaders like the City of Austin.
The Regional Forum elucidated the group’s collective commitment to building inclusive, just, and sustainable food systems, with a joint roadmap for the next two years in the works as a result of the gathering.
“There are little experiments we can test anywhere, and the closer you stay to movements, the more accountable you will be and the braver you will become.” - Dr. Ashanté M. Reese |
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| | | | Photo credit: Lake Travis ISD |
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| | “Earlier this month, our elementary students had a special opportunity to try something fresh, fun, and locally grown: ‘Bugs Bunny Carrots’ served with the tops on!
”Through a partnership between LTISD Food & Nutrition Services and the Central Texas Food Bank Central Texas Food Hub, students enjoyed locally grown carrots from Terra Preta Farms in Edinburg, TX delivered straight from the farm to their lunch trays. Served whole (with leafy green tops), these carrots sparked curiosity, conversation, and lots of smiles in the cafeteria!
“Students learned how carrots grow, read fun carrot nutrition facts displayed on the serving line, talked about where their food comes from, and explored how local farms support our community. Experiences like this help students build positive relationships with fresh foods. When children can see, touch, and learn about their food in a fun way, they are more likely to try it, and enjoy it!” |
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| | | | Canva template credit: Marissa Bell, Lake Travis ISD |
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| | | “CRFS was proud to be part of the Agriculture for Tomorrow Conference on March 12, 2026, at Bay College in Escanaba, where May Tsupros, Director of Farm to Institution at CRFS, partnered with MSUE Community Food Systems Educator, Abbey Palmer, to facilitate a panel on the challenges and opportunities alongside Upper Peninsula farmers, suppliers, and processors during the ‘Farmer Stories from the Field: Selling to Institutions’ session.
“‘We had incredible engagement and questions from the packed audience. This showcased the interest the UP food community has around building capacity for institutional purchasing. We learned collaboration, creative processing and transport solutions, and starting very simple—with maybe 1 or 2 products max, is key,’ Tsupros reflected.
“The panel highlighted practical pathways for farmers to build and sustain relationships with schools, hospitals, and other public institutions, demonstrating how Farm to Institution efforts are strengthening local food systems and communities across Michigan. This session was one part of an overall ‘Bringing the Farm to School/Institution’ track that had the highest overall attendance for the day.” |
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| | | Good Food Operators: You’re invited to join the Center for a learning session on Thursday, April 16, to chat and workshop about storytelling. We’re looking forward to digging into the stories you want to share with the world, what’s working for you (and what’s not), and how we can spark interest and drive engagement together. |
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| | The Food Justice for Kids Prize, powered by Newman’s Own Foundation, Humanitix, The Henry P. Kendall Foundation, and the Hunger to Health Collaboratory, will award grants up to $100K each, over 2 years, to as many as 14 nonprofits, Tribes, schools, and school districts in the United States and its territories working to ensure all children can access, learn about, and engage with nutritious, culturally relevant food at school and in communities. |
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