Resources
The Nebraska Farm to School program enriches the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and early care and education settings. Learn more about some of our programs:
U.S. Department of Agriculture Resources
Farm to School Census – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers the Farm to School Program in order to support and promote the use of local foods in Child Nutrition Programs. The Farm to School Census is conducted periodically to assess the state of farm to school activities across the U.S. The Census surveys all school food authorities (SFAs) participating in the National School Lunch Program. USDA conducted the first Farm to School Census in 2013, 2015, and again in 2019. The most recent Farm to School Census was conducted in the fall of 2023 and findings are largely based on farm to school participation in the 2022-2023 school year.
Farm to School Fact Sheets – The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Team offers over factsheets on a variety of topics, ranging from school gardening to local meat.
Procuring Local Foods – Local foods are on the menu for students across the country. Local procurement in school meals supports local farmers. Students are also encouraged to make healthier choices when provided locally grown options. The resources on this page will help Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operators buy local. Many of the resources speak to K-12 school program operators. However, the information still applies to child care providers and summer feeding sites.
Purchasing Local Food
How Are Nebraska Schools Sourcing Local Food? This infographic outlines the many different ways local foods are accessible to schools.
- Use local food and product directories
- Ask other food service professionals where they source their local foods.
- Check with your distributor(s) for a list of Nebraska-grown products they stock on a regular basis.
- Search for local distributors, grower cooperatives, and food hubs for more information about food producers in your area.
Selling Local Food
Getting Started With Farm to School for Farmers – Walk through the basic steps of getting local product on a school tray.
Q & A for Farmers: Selling to Schools – Find answers to commonly asked questions regarding selling local food to schools.
Farmer Checklist: Meeting with a School Food Service Director – Be prepared for your first meeting with a school foodservice director by checking off the items on this list.
Farm Product Availability and Pricing – Let schools know what local food products you can provide using this template.
Farm Bio – Share general information on your farm and farm products for schools to have and easily reference.
Using Local Eggs in Nebraska Schools – Learn more about requirements around local eggs in Nebraska Child Nutrition Programs.
Nebraska Harvest of the Month Information Sheet for Producers – Harvest of the Month is an excellent starting point for Farm to School. Producers and schools work together to feature one local in season item per month during the school year.
Beef to School Programs
Nebraska Beef to School Processing Standard Operating Procedure
Nebraska Beef to School Fact Sheet
Nebraska Cattleman’s Beef in Schools Resource – Promoting Nebraska beef for school lunch programs and encouraging beef education and nutrition throughout Nebraska schools.
School Foodservice Beef Resource Guide – Aiding school foodservice professionals in understanding the significance of incorporating beef in menus and utilizing locally sourced options. This guide was developed under the guidance of the Wisconsin Beef Council with the assistance of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff.
Greenhouse Resources
From Greenhouse to Cafeteria: A Toolkit for Creating and revamping greenhouse programs in Nebraska Schools – The Center for Rural Affairs is working with schools across Nebraska to revamp greenhouse programs. This guide can assist teachers, administrators, FFA instructors, and students in: Forming a greenhouse committee, Creating a purpose and goals for a greenhouse, Establishing a greenhouse curriculum, Designing and maintaining a greenhouse system, and Creating a managing a production plan.
Greenhouse Manual: An Introductory Guide for Educators – United States Botanic Garden, the National Association for Appropriate Technology and City Blossoms developed this freely available Greenhouse Manual: An Introductory Guide for Educators in response to an expressed need to help guide would-be greenhouse managers and educators as their schools explore ways to build new infrastructure or reinvest in existing greenhouse facilities. The manual lays out a basic understanding of greenhouses, how to integrate greenhouses into lessons, and how to use greenhouses in classroom curricula and after-school activities.
Nebraska Farm to School Policy
LR 337 – This report examines the three interconnected components essential to taking farm to school to the next level statewide, both economically and educationally. It examines procurement in school meal programs, education within the school system as well as the community, and policy recommendations.
LB 396 – This bill is an act to adopt the Farm to School Program Act. It was implemented in 2021.
Additional Nebraska Resources
Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska (BFBL)
BFBL is a leader in promoting the production and consumption of local food. BFBL identifies the needs of diversified family farms for training and technical assistance, makes connections from growers to markets, and expands consumer awareness about local producers and businesses.
MWD is home to thousands of dairy farmers who are committed to providing nutritious, wholesome milk and dairy products. MWD offers many dairy resources for educators, including lesson plans, activities, live/recorded virtual resources and grant funds that are available to promote farm to school efforts.
NBC is a resource for Nebraska community members, beef producers and beef processors, as well as schools. NBC is an expert in agriculture and culinary education and provides resources and tools for recipe development, nutrition and agriculture education and making connections to producers and processors.
Nebraska Dry Bean Commission (NDBC)
NDBC supports Nebraska dry bean growers and processors through programs of research, education and promotion.
Nebraska Extension’s Regional Food System Initiative (NeRFSI)
NeRFSI is focused on enhancing the lives of all Nebraskans through research-based education. NeRFSI works across all sectors of the food system to increase production and consumption of local foods, and raise awareness of the value of agriculture in our communities.
Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation
The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the number of Nebraskans who understand and value agriculture as a source of food, fuel, and economic success in our state.
Additional Regional/National Resources
Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA)
(CFRA) is a leading force engaging people to build a better rural future. CFRA provides resources, support and training for new and beginning farmers, and leads efforts on local food and farm policy, network development and small business training, technical assistance and financing.
National Farm to School Network (NFSN)
NFSN is an information, advocacy and networking hub for communities working to bring local food sourcing and food and agriculture education into school systems and early care and education environments.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program
The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program helps child nutrition program operators incorporate local foods in Child Nutrition Programs and offers over 20 different fact sheets on a variety of topics, ranging from school gardening to local meat.
Questions? Please reach out to our Farm to School team at nde.f2s@nebraska.gov.