WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is directing more than $77 million in additional federal funding toward school meal programs, including grants for local food purchasing and cafeteria equipment, as the agency expands efforts to connect schools with domestic agricultural producers.
The funding includes more than $27 million in additional Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants and $50 million in National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grants, according to the department.
The new Farm to School funding brings total awards for 2026 to more than $47 million across 149 projects nationwide, the largest annual investment in the program’s history.
The grants support partnerships between schools and local farmers, expand access to locally produced food and fund nutrition and agricultural education activities for students.
The additional $50 million for cafeteria equipment will be distributed to state agencies through noncompetitive grants, building on equipment assistance awards made in August.
Eligible purchases include refrigeration and cold-storage equipment, stoves and other infrastructure needed to prepare and serve school meals.
The investments address two operational components of school nutrition programs: expanding access to agricultural products from local suppliers and improving schools’ capacity to store, prepare and serve those foods.
USDA is coordinating the funding through its Harvest to Hallways initiative, which seeks to strengthen purchasing relationships between schools and American agricultural producers while supporting the department’s Pledge for Healthier School Meals.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins characterized the funding as part of a broader effort to increase the use of domestically produced foods in school cafeterias.
“Every child deserves real, nutritious food grown by American farmers and ranchers on their lunch tray,” Rollins stated.
The Farm to School program provides federal support for projects that connect agricultural producers with school nutrition operations. Participating projects can also incorporate classroom instruction and activities focused on food production and nutrition.
USDA previously announced Farm to School awards in April and July. The latest allocation increases the program’s total 2026 funding without changing the reported number of projects receiving support.
The equipment grants operate separately, providing state agencies with additional resources to help schools upgrade food-service infrastructure.
The funding is intended to help schools handle fresh and locally sourced ingredients, which may require different storage and preparation capabilities than existing cafeteria operations.
Together, the two allocations expand federal support for school food procurement and meal preparation while creating additional opportunities for agricultural producers to supply institutional buyers.
USDA’s Farm to School website includes descriptions of the 2026 Farm to School grant recipients and their projects.
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