North Dakota’s Farm to School Program: Cultivating Local Food, Education, and Community

North Dakota’s Farm to School initiative continues to grow statewide, creating powerful connections between students and the local foods that nourish them. Through partnerships among educators, farmers, ranchers, and community organizations, schools and child care sites are integrating locally grown fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, honey, and dairy into meals while also enriching learning through nutrition education, farm field trips, classroom activities, and gardens.

Across the state, students are experiencing the benefits of fresh, North Dakota–grown foods—such as local beef, seasonal vegetables, and specialty crops—while learning firsthand where their food comes from and why local agriculture matters. These efforts strengthen food literacy, support healthy habits, and build deeper connections to our state’s agricultural heritage.

Farm to School goes far beyond the cafeteria. Hands‑on gardening projects, taste tests, farmer classroom visits, and agriculture education activities are helping students at all ages explore the local food system and develop curiosity about how food is grown. Many school districts and child care sites are expanding their gardens or launching new ones as interest increases.

But the future success of Farm to School depends on growing even more partnerships.

Now is the perfect time for North Dakota producers, schools, and child care programs to join forces and expand local food purchasing. Whether you are a farmer interested in supplying products, a school nutrition director seeking new local items for your menus, or a child care provider looking to introduce fresh foods to young children, there are abundant opportunities to collaborate.

By working together, we can: 

- Strengthen North Dakota’s local food economy 

- Increase access to fresh, high‑quality foods for children 

- Support producers of all sizes across the state 

- Create meaningful educational experiences rooted in agriculture 

As participation grows, so does the shared commitment to nourishing and educating the next generation—one local bite at a time. If you’re ready to get involved, reach out and connect with local partners, explore purchasing opportunities, or join upcoming Farm to School events and trainings like the Growing Connections Seminar in Bismarck, June 25, 2026. Your partnership can make a lasting impact on the health and learning of children across North Dakota.

Resources on Farm to School can be found at https://www.farrms.org/webinars

 For more information, contact:

Amanda Olson

Farm to Child Nutrition Specialist

ND Dept. of Public Instruction

amolson@nd.gov

Jenna Nieters

Local Foods Marketing Specialist

ND Dept. of Agriculture

jnieters@nd.gov