Block Grant has been specifically earmarked for CACFP facilities( National CACFP Association 2024). Programs like the CACFP encourage the use of local foods and offer guidance on how to incorporate them into meal planning.
Educators who hope to use the CACFP resources for food procurement can begin by becoming a participant in the program. This process involves working with their state’ s CACFP agency, which is typically part of the state’ s department of education, public health, or agriculture. Because the application process can vary by state, a first step is to contact the state agency to express interest and learn about eligibility requirements. The application process may include providing documentation about the program’ s licensing, nonprofit status, and the number of children it serves. Following approval, the program would receive training on federal and state regulations, meal pattern requirements, and proper documentation procedures. Documentation includes meal service records, food costs, procurement costs, participant records, and training records. Each program also works with a CACFP sponsor, who can process monthly claims for reimbursement, ensure the sites are in compliance with federal guidelines, and offer training and technical assistance. Federal procurement guidelines can change, so programs need to check with their CACFP sponsor as well as relevant state and federal websites for the latest information.
As noted earlier, early childhood educators may prioritize sourcing foods from producers who use sustainable, climate-friendly practices, such as organic practices, crop rotation, or no-till farming. This may be as simple as selecting these options through a website or sourcing guide, such as localharvest. org, or a state or regional farming association, like Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont. These procurement choices can be supported by the CACFP, which allows programs to be reimbursed for the purchase of local, nutritious foods, whether conventionally or sustainably grown. This policy helps programs to make environmentally conscious decisions without taking on a financial burden.
To learn more about the CACFP, including how to find a sponsor, find recipe ideas, and obtain cycle menus, visit www. cacfp. org. The USDA Food and
Nutrition Service offers support to connect the CACFP with farm to early care and education as well( fns. usda. gov / f2s / farm-cacfp).
State and Local Supports
Individual states have also implemented policies and legislation to sustain healthy environments for early childhood education, including farm to early care and education initiatives. These initiatives are being integrated into state systems through various mechanisms, such as recognition programs and QRIS. For example, Iowa, North Carolina, and Michigan have developed programs to recognize providers who are successfully implementing farm to early care and education practices. Another important initiative is universal school meals, including programs that support feeding children in early learning settings, which increases children’ s access to food and boosts demand for local food sourcing. As of November 2024, eight states had passed universal school meals legislation within early childhood education, with an additional 12 states working on legislation( Food Research & Action Center 2024).
Moreover, many states are implementing efforts that directly support farm to early care and education. In Michigan, the 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’ s Kids and Farms program provides matching grant funds to schools and centers for purchasing Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans. This is complemented by the Michigan State University Extension’ s Growing Healthy Eaters initiative, which offers coaching, CSA boxes, and other resources specifically to home-based settings. A recent study found that a majority of providers reported improved knowledge in planning, purchasing, preparing, and serving local foods( Hobbs 2025). This program demonstrates the power of pairing policies and funding with hands-on, community-based resources.
Washington, DC, has developed a Farm to ECE Roadmap and programs like farm share bags and child care shares to enhance local food access. Its comprehensive approach is built on a strong legislative foundation: The Healthy Tots Act gives crucial funding and support to early childhood programs to serve local, healthy, and unprocessed foods. Additionally, the district’ s roadmap is a collaborative plan that identifies clear objectives, from increasing access to local foods for families and early learning programs
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