WASHINGTON, D.C. – Critics of the Administration’s MAHA Strategy to Make Our Children Healthy Again, released last week, point to USDA’s “non-continuation” of prior farm-to-school food programs. They scoff that if the Administration cared about childhood nutrition, they wouldn’t have “canceled” the farm-to-school segment.

It’s important to know that these USDA programs are year-to-year and must be renewed annually. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and her designees had stated last spring that farm-to-school programs were being reviewed by the current Administration and would be brought back streamlined to be consistent with the MAHA Commission’s work.

Late last Wed., Sept. 10, USDA did just that. One day after the release of the MAHA Strategy of executive steps to Make Our Children Healthy Again, Secretary Rollins announced the opening of applications for 2026 fiscal year Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants.

She announced the investment of $18 million in these projects, USDA’s largest single year investment in farm-to-school – ever.

These programs, with new grant applications ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, connect local farmers with USDA’s child nutrition programs through local food procurement, agricultural education, school gardens, and more.

New this year, USDA reimagined the program, implementing several improvements, including streamlining the application, removing barriers to innovation, and emphasizing partnerships to give small family farms the best chance at success.

“USDA is proud to streamline this program, so it works better for families, farmers, and communities across our nation. Putting America’s Farmers First starts with putting our children first,” said USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins.

The Request for Application (RFA) differs significantly in several important ways from past Farm to School Grant Program solicitations, including eligibility, funding amounts available, and project scope. Interested parties are urged to read the RFA thoroughly for complete information at https://www.fns.usda.gov/f2s/grant

Since the program’s inception in 2013, USDA has awarded a total of $100 million to more than 1200 projects across the country.

Farm to School Grants support projects that:

• Incorporate more unprocessed, locally sourced foods into meals served at school, summer sites, and/or by child care providers;

• Provide producers training on procurement requirements and food safety standards to protect child health;

• Integrate agricultural education into career and technical programs to support the longevity of America’s agricultural legacy;

• Encourage increased consumption of fresh, whole fruits and vegetables; protein, and more.

This grant opportunity is open to state and local agencies, tribes, child nutrition program operators, small- to medium-sized agriculture producers, groups of agricultural producers, and nonprofits. Detailed information about eligibility and application requirements can be found in the request for applications; (see above). Applications close on December 5, 2025.