The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the Harvest to Hallways initiative on Aug. 24 to expand use of locally produced food in school meals and upgrade cafeteria infrastructure.
The initiative directs up to $70 million in funding for school cafeteria equipment and infrastructure improvements, and up to $25 million in Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants for fiscal year 2026, according to the USDA. The Department of Health and Human Services will contribute $30 million for research on practical ways to improve school meal nutrition.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins said the effort aims to connect schools with local farmers. "When we strengthen the connection between the farm and the lunchroom, everybody wins: our children eat better, our farmers gain new markets, and our communities grow stronger," Rollins said.
The USDA also plans to expand promotion of the "Local Option" School Procurement Program, which allows schools to purchase and be reimbursed for locally produced food. The agency cited Union County, Kentucky, as an example where districts have purchased locally produced beef, and noted a Pennsylvania program that supplied locally raised beef to nearly 300,000 students across 175 schools.