Through the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) will providing funding opportunity for schools to serve locally grown foods and beverages to children through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. These products will be healthy and unique to their geographic area, with the goal of improving child nutrition and building new relationships between schools and local farmers.

“This cooperative agreement supporting Missouri schools is another example of how USDA is working to build a more resilient food system rooted in local and regional production,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program provides an opportunity for states to strengthen ties between local farmers, ranchers, food businesses and schools, and gives students access to nutritious foods unique to the area they live.

Through LFS, DESE will encourage urban and rural schools to apply for funding to promote purchases of local foods for school meal trays and foster proper health and safety habits. This program will create an opportunity for underserved farmers to promote and grow their business as well as create a relationship between schools and local agricultural communities.

• Local Food for Schools USDA Press Release - Read the full USDA news release here.

Resources

• Local Food for Schools Grant (application now open)
• Application Checklist
• Request for Applications
• Grant Training Recording
• Training Powerpoint Slides
• Local Produce and Dairy 2023 Calendar
• What's Available-Harvest Calendar for Schools
• Farm to School Readiness for Child Nutrition Professionals Evaluation