DATCP Announces Wisconsin Farm to School Program Grant Recipients
On March 15, 2024, DATCP announced that eight organizations will receive grants through the Wisconsin Farm to School Program Grant Program. To read the full press release, click here.
Current Farm to School Grant Opportunity!
The Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub, funded by the USDA, is offering two grant opportunities in 2024. SPARK grants ($10,000-$75,000) fund projects that need a short-term infusion of funds for school food system and marketplace improvements, such as capacity building, planning, and product testing projects. Innovation Collaborative Awards ($250,000) fund projects that promote systems-level change of the school food system and marketplace, such as scaling up of programs, regional partnerships, or new program or product development and integration.
Applications are now live, with a final application deadline of April 30, 2024.
Wisconsin Act 293 was created to: promote the use of locally grown food in school meals and snacks, grant rule−making authority and create the Farm to School Council.
DATCP Farm to School Advisory Council members are nominated and appointed by the Secretary of DATCP. The council is comprised of 15 individuals, including a DATCP employee, DPI employee, DHS employee, and 12 other members who are farmers, experts in child health, school food service personnel, and others with interests in agriculture, nutrition, and education appointed by the DATCP Secretary. The council makes key recommendations to the DATCP Secretary that guide the development of Farm to School in Wisconsin and creates the required annual Wisconsin Farm to School Annual Report for the legislature under Wis. Stat. s. 93.49 (5) .
DATCP Farm to
School Advisory Council
DATCP Farm to School Advisory Council Nomination Form
2020-22 Farm to School Annual Report (PDF)
2019-20 Farm to School Annual Report (PDF )
DATCP Agricultural Development Division provides services through a Farm to School and Institution Specialist focusing on procurement and economic development for farmers by supporting and facilitating connections along local food supply chains from producer to processor, buyer, and ultimately to people's plates.
DATCP partners with the Department of Public Instruction to provide technical assistance to Wisconsin producers and food service directors on developing farm to school partnerships and practices through a Farm to School Marketplace.
MarketplaceMeetingsSchedule.pdf (wi.gov)
DATCP Home Marketplace Meetings: Your Farm to School Connection (wi.gov)
Wisconsin Farm to School Grant
2024 Wisconsin Farm to School Grant Request for Proposals (PDF)
2024 Wisconsin Farm to School Grant Application (Word Doc)
2024 Wisconsin Farm to School Grant News Release
Farm to School (F2S) initiatives are the practice of participating in and promoting the use of locally sourced foods in school meal programs. Key elements of F2S are engaging with procurement, nutrition education, and school gardens.
Farm to Early Care Education (F2ECE) initiatives are the practices of participating in and promoting the use of locally sourced foods in school meal programs. Key elements of F2ECE are engaging with procurement, nutrition education, and school gardens.
Farm to Institution initiatives is the practice of engaging and developing regional food system supply chains to provide local food to eaters through institutional kitchens such as corporate and college campuses, hospitals, and food banks.