to empowering educators and securing sustainable funding( OSSE 2025). This multifaceted strategy ensures that farm to early care and education is deeply integrated into the local early childhood system.
California has significantly invested in the movement: To date, it has allocated $ 86.8 million to three cohorts of grantees as part of its Farm to School Grant Program, which includes both K – 12 and birth-to-5 settings. The state’ s Planting the Seed: Farm to School Roadmap for Success prioritizes early learning programs that partner with farmers using climate-smart production practices( California Department of Food and Agriculture 2022). The grant program has funded those working to increase seasonal foods in early learning settings, provide training for staff and families, establish innovative partnerships, and distribute produce boxes with recipes and supporting materials to families. In 2024, funding expanded from six to 17 grantees, who focused on increasing access to California-grown products in ways that minimize environmental impact while maximizing resources.
To explore similar efforts, the National Farm to School Network( NFSN) offers resources such as its network map and a map of state-level policies, connecting partner organizations.
Tips for Getting Started
Our own experiences and conversations with educators implementing farm to early care and education are supported by research suggesting the three core elements of procurement, gardening experiences, and nutrition education are deeply intertwined( Shedd & Kelly 2023). We have also found they create a foundation of values for the steps we have taken. Therefore, we recommend identifying shared values regarding production practices first, as these will influence the subsequent steps early learning programs may take to implement farm to early care and education.
› Connect with a state or regional farm to early care and education network or coordinator. The National Farm to School Network offers a map connecting state partners. Farm to School / Early Care and Education connections can also be found through a state’ s department of agriculture or department of education. Learning about these connections is helpful as each state has its own policies and resources, including funding opportunities.
› Map program budget and purchasing needs as well as funding opportunities. Look at existing funds, other resources such as the CACFP and program requirements, and other possible funding at the federal, state, or local level to supplement the food purchasing budget.
› Look at existing menus( or borrow / create one), and start small. Small changes can be easy and make a substantial difference. Swap out one regularly used product for a locally sourced one that can be procured easily. Switch up a weekly side for a locally grown fruit or vegetable. Try it out as part of a tasting demonstration with a follow-up activity involving descriptive words or a graph of“ yays” and“ maybes.”
› Develop partnerships and relationships with farmers and local producers, other early learning programs or sites, and others who share the similar values about how to feed children. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and learning can be shared across programs. Use farmers markets to develop relationships with farmers and learn from them about in-season products or new ways to prepare them. Consider trying a CSA for snacks, taste tests, or education activities or connecting with a local food co-op or food hub to investigate at-cost purchasing options.
› Ask for help. Enlisting families, other educators or programs, and the community to help with planning and logistics can encourage a culture of locally sourced healthy eating that lasts a lifetime and extends beyond the walls of your setting.
About the Authors
Meagan K. Shedd, PhD, is the director of evaluation with Food Insight Group. meagan @ foodinsightgroup. com
Cynthia Greene has worked in early childhood education for over 30 years and is currently the Farm to Early Childhood Partnership coordinator with Shelburne Farms Institute for Sustainable Schools in Vermont. cgreene @ shelburnefarms. org
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