Farm to School

Overview

School Nutrition Programs | Program Guidance | Forms | Resources | Nutrition Education

The Farm-to-School Program involves a variety of school experiences and programs about gardening, educating children about nutrition, and purchasing fresh, locally grown farm products. Farm-to-School connects schools (K-12) and local farms with the objectives of:

  • serving healthy meals in school cafeterias;
  • improving student nutrition;
  • providing agriculture, health, and nutrition education opportunities; and
  • supporting local and regional farmers.

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DOAG) works with state agencies such as the Connecticut Department of Education (CSDE) to implement Connecticut’s Farm-to-School Program.


Local Food for Schools Incentive Program (LFSIP)

There are two different LFSIP. The federal LFSIP is operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the CSDE. The CT LFSIP is operated by the CT DOAG. Each program provides reimbursement to eligible CT schools for purchases of locally and regionally sourced food to be used in certain school nutrition programs. The chart below compares the different requirements for the Federal LFSIP and the CT LFSIP.


CT LFSIP Federal LFSIP 
Description:
Provides state reimbursement payments to eligible boards of education for the purchase of locally and regionally sourced unprocessed or minimally processed food products food to be used in eligible school meal programs. 		 Description:
The CSDE provides USDA reimbursement payments to eligible school food authorities (SFAs) for the purchase of local and regional unprocessed or minimally processed domestic food products from historically underserved or small business producers and processors, to be used in eligible school meal programs. 
Timeline:
May 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025
Restarted annually		 Timeline: 
November 1, 2022 - April 30, 2025
Eligibility:
SFAs operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)		 Eligibility: 
SFAs operating the NSLP and/or School Breakfast Program (SBP)
Reimbursement:
50% for CT Grown purchases
33% for New England and New York purchases up to the maximum allocation		 Reimbursement:
100% up to the maximum allocation
Programs included:
SBP
NSLP
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
Seamless Summer Option (SSO) of the NSLP
CACFP At-risk Afterschool Meals		 Programs included:
SBP
NSLP
SSO
Afterschool Snack Program (ASP)
 
Administered by:
CT DOAG		 Administered by:
CSDE
Contact:
Hannah Carty
860-471-1620
hannah.carty@ct.gov
 Contact:
Monica Pacheco
860-807-2086
monica.pacheco@ct.gov
 

CT LFSIP

Federal LFSIP Resources

CT Grown for CT Kids