Arkansas (AR)

Explore information on farm to school participation by Arkansas (AR) school food authorities (SFAs) that responded to the Census and the schools and students they serve. Use the tools below to dig deeper into farm to school in Arkansas.

State Profile for Arkansas

Total School Food Authorities (SFAs)

270

Total Schools*

1,070

Total Students*

486,378

Farm to School Participation

83.7% (226)

of SFAs participating in SY 2022-23

*Total schools and total students taken from SFA reporting to FNS of schools and students participating in the National School Lunch Program.

Key Census Findings for Arkansas

Dig in on how farm to school is being cultivated across Arkansas.

Length of farm to school participation by SFAs in Arkansas

Farm to school has been picking up momentum over the last 10 years. See how long SFAs in Arkansas have been going local.

	Percent of F2S SFAs	Number of F2S SFAs
Less than 3 years	39.4%	89
3-5 years	32.3%	73
6-10 years	18.6%	42
More than 10 years	8.8%	20

Farm to school participation in Arkansas

Farm to school is growing in Arkansas! Local food and agricultural education activities are showing up in the cafeteria, the classroom, and the garden. Check out how many schools and students are in SFAs that responded to the Census and do farm to school.

Arkansas SFAs serving local food

Farm to school means more fresh, local food is on the menu. Across the country, SFAs report serving higher quality foods in school meals and increased student consumption of fruits and vegetables as outcomes of engaging in farm to school.

Child Nutrition Programs in Arkansas using local food in school year 2022-2023

Nationally, a majority of farm to school SFAs have been serving local food in school meals and snacks. See how many SFAs in Arkansas are leveraging local foods.

	Percent of SFAs	Number of SFAs
Use local foods in NSLP	67.8%	183
Use local foods in SBP	61.5%	166
Use local foods in the FFVP	20.7%	56
Use local foods in CACFP	17%	46
Use local foods in CACFP At-Risk	4.8%	13
Use local foods in SFSP/SSO	32.2%	87

Arkansas SFAs providing food, nutrition, or agricultural education

Farm to school activities include experiential learning in the classroom, in the garden, and on the farm. Arkansas SFAs offer opportunities such as taste testing, school gardening, and farm field trips.

Arkansas SFAs that have edible gardens

School gardens are becoming a popular outdoor extension of the classroom. Across the curriculum, school gardens can bring learning to life and produce food to serve in school meals.

Food and nutrition education in Arkansas

Farm to school activities can include educational experiences in the classroom, the garden, and on the farm. See how SFAs in Arkansas are bringing farm to school alive with hands-on learning.

	Percent of SFAs	Number of SFAs
Hold taste tests & cooking demos	18.5%	50
Use USDA Team Nutrition materials	5.9%	16
Hold student field trips to farms	11.9%	32
Have farmers visit	5.6%	15

Local foods served daily or weekly in meals or snacks

As farm to school has grown, so have the local options students enjoy at meal time. Many schools are serving fresh and local fruits, vegetables, dairy, proteins, or grains daily, a few times a week, or weekly. Schools meet federal nutritional standards and students get healthy, flavorful, options.

	Percent of SFAs	Number of SFAs
Serve local fruit at least weekly	43.3%	117
Serve local vegetables at least weekly	42.6%	115
Serve local milk at least weekly	67%	181
Serve other local dairy at least weekly	24.8%	67
Serve local protein at least weekly	34.1%	92
Serve local grains at least weekly	26.7%	72

Arkansas (AR)

State Profile for Arkansas

Key Census Findings for Arkansas