The original program launched in 2013 by Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities and Northwest Education Services. The program provides school districts in northwest and west Michigan with competitive matching grants to spend on locally grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans.
Since its introduction, 10 Cents a Meal has become a state pilot program and several districts have taken it on. It increased fruit and vegetable purchasing by nearly 142% each year!
The state of Michigan piloted the program for the first time in 2016 through 2017. Following the success of the pilot school year, the state increased the funding from $250,000 to $375,000 and opened up the opportunity to schools in an additional region. Schools in Michigan Prosperity Regions 2, 4 and 9 now receive funding.
Now, 57 districts that serve approximately 135,000 students are buying local fruits and vegetables. Michigan joins Oregon, New Mexico, New York and Washington, D.C., as a Farm to School leader. Click here to download the 2020-2021 Legislative Report.
The program provides school districts in northwest and west Michigan with competitive matching grants to spend on locally grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans. Here are some of the great many benefits of 10 Cents a Meal…
- $210,000 in state match funding can provide up to $420,000 for Michigan’s agricultural economy and great food for our kids
- Breaks down financial barriers to this common-sense market for local agriculture
- Helps kids know where food comes from—a farm, not a store
- Creates a world in which schools can more easily buy locally grown fruits, vegetables, and legumes from neighbor farms
- Lets kids appreciate the great flavors that their state grows
Click here to learn more about 10 Cents a Meal and its impact.
The TBAISD Farm to School team worked with Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities and other 10 Cents Meal Partners to put together webinars for food service directors and educators in participating 10 Cents a Meal districts:
