USDA awards $20M in Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants
Grant program increases availability of local foods in child nutrition programs and connects children to the sources of their food through local procurement, education, taste tests, school gardens and field trips.
On July 7, 2026, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the second cohort of fiscal year (FY) 2026 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants, completing the largest single-year financial investment in the history of the grant program. This year, USDA awarded a total of nearly $20 million to 68 projects that will empower more American farmers, producers, ranchers, and fishers to serve their local foods in school meals, summer meals, and childcare settings.
"Our historic investment in farm to school projects is a win-win-win for kids, farmers, and communities – students are nourished with farm-fresh, nutrient-rich foods; producers access dependable markets through schools; and local economies are strengthened," Rollins said. "USDA is committed to putting American agriculture at the center of our nutrition programs and that starts with our children."
The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program increases the availability of local foods in child nutrition programs and connects children to the sources of their food through local procurement, education, taste tests, school gardens and field trips.
USDA announced the first cohort of FY 2026 grantees in April. Project descriptions for all of this year’s grantees can be found on the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program website.
USDA reimagined the FY 2026 Farm to School Grant program to prioritize innovative, large-scale projects built on strong partnerships, resulting in the highest number of applicants and the most money awarded in a single year of the program. Since the Farm to School Grant program first launched in 2013, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration has awarded more than $119 million in grants, funding more than 1,265 projects throughout all 50 states, the District of Columbia, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Source: USDA
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
