Minnesota Grants Connect Children with Local Food

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded more than $1 million in grants to schools and early care providers through its Farm to School and Early Care Grants program. This funding supports the purchase of Minnesota-grown and -raised foods, creating market opportunities for local farmers and improving the quality of school and early care meals across the state. New for 2025, the MDA awarded $97,000 to 194 family childcare providers through its Local Tots Cost-Share program. Each provider received a $500 award through this non-competitive program to help serve more local foods as part of their meal and snack programs. MDA also awarded $948,096 in grants to 63 school districts and nine early childhood education centers, to purchase whole unprocessed or minimally processed foods that are at least 80% grown or raised in Minnesota. Applicants could also request additional matching funding to purchase equipment that supports their local sourcing efforts by improving food safety and making scratch cooking with local foods more accessible and efficient. The program awarded $82,007 to 12 schools and early care centers for items ranging from flat top grills and refrigeration units to tilt skillets and food processors.