Farm to School Full Tray Grant

Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)

Predicted deadline: Nov 2, 2024 2:00pm PDT

Grant amount: US $2,500 - US $150,000

Funding uses: Project / Program

Location of project: Minnesota

Location of residency: Minnesota

Overview:

NOTE: In addition to applying for the Farm to School Full Tray Grant, you may also apply for the AGRI Equipment Grant.

About

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has served our state for more than 125 years. The work we do touches every Minnesota citizen every day.

Our mission is to enhance all Minnesotans’ quality of life by equitably ensuring the integrity of our food supply, the health of our environment, and the strength and resilience of our agricultural economy.

Our three general areas of responsibility include:

• Protecting our food supply;
• Protecting our natural resources; and,
• Cultivating our agricultural economy.

Farm to School Full Tray Grant

The Farm to School Full Tray Grant is intended for school districts that have some Farm to School experience and want to grow their Farm to School programming and expand local procurement from Minnesota producers.

Schools just starting a Farm to School program should consider applying for the Farm to School Mini Bite Grant.

Through our Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and with the support of the Cargill Foundation, we anticipate awarding nearly $3.5 million to reimburse school districts for purchasing Minnesota grown and raised foods used in school meal programs.

Project

Projects must enhance and expand existing procurement and consumption of Minnesota grown and raised foods. This may include but is not limited to:

• Trialing new Minnesota grown products on the menu through taste tests
• Diversifying the products sourced from a Minnesota farm
• Increasing the number of times a Minnesota item or meal repeats on the menu
• Adding Minnesota Thursday as monthly feature to the menu
• Expanding the number of featured items or meals during Farm to School Month
• Introducing local sourcing into the School Breakfast Program (SBP)

Funding

The amount of funding each school district is eligible for is based on the number of reimbursable lunches and breakfasts served in October 2021, using this formula: meals served x 20 cents x 10 months.

Example: (7,500 reimbursable lunches + 5,000 breakfasts) x $0.20 x 10 months = $25,000

The maximum award that a school district may apply for is $100,000; the minimum is $2,500. A cash match is not required.

Second Helping Food Funds

If we have funds available after initial grant awards are made, we will award Second Helping Food Funding to selected Full Tray recipients. This funding is in addition to the original formula-based request and is capped at $50,000 per school district.

• To be considered for these additional funds, complete the Second Helping section at the end of the Full Tray online application.
• Receiving a Full Tray Grant does not guarantee you will receive Second Helping funds.

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.