FNS Documents & Resources

This factsheet reviews best practices for producers to learn about how to sell local food to schools.

The resources on this page will help ensure child nutrition program operators have the resources and knowledge necessary to incorporate local foods into their day-to-day operations. 

This fact sheet presents effective strategies for supporting community food systems.

The USDA awards grants annually to help connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for school meals. This fact sheet gives an overview of the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program and highlights Farm to School grantee projects.

The Dirt is the Patrick Leahy Farm to School program monthly e-Letter with updates, webinar info, relevant news, and field notes. 

This fact sheet reviews school farms spanning acres in Minnesota, indoor tower gardens in Vermont, raised beds in New York City, aquaponic systems in the Virgin Islands, and native food gardens in tribal communities.

This fact sheet, available in both English and Spanish, reviews the steps to successfully integrate local food in child nutrition programs.

This factsheet gives examples, tips, and information for putting local meat on school menus.  

This factsheet explains how USDA Foods support the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the school meal pattern requirements to make it easier for schools to prepare healthy meals using local foods.

This fact sheet provides information on how to use USDA DoD Fresh to purchase local produce.