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
- Connecticut LFSIP (CT DOAG)
Federal LFSIP Resources
- Comparison of the State and Federal LFSIP (CSDE)
- CSDE Operational Memorandum No. 14-23: Local Food for Schools Incentive Program
- LFSIP Participating School Food Authorities Phase 1
- Webinar: LFSIP Information Session (CSDE)
- Monthly Reporting Form: Monthly Local Foods for Schools Incentive Program (LFSIP) Reporting Form - Phase 1 (CSDE)
CT Grown for CT Kids
- CT Grown for CT Kids Grant (Connecticut Department of Agriculture)
- CT Grown for CT Kids Week: 2024: October 7-11, 2024 (CT Farm to School Collaborative)
- Connecticut Farm to School Study (2022-23): Farm to School in Connecticut (UCONN Zwick Center for Food and Resource Policy)
How Connecticut school food authorities procure local food products and what challenges they face