Delaware (DE)

Explore information on farm to school participation by Delaware (DE) 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 Delaware.

State Profile for Delaware

Total School Food Authorities (SFAs)

Total Schools*

253

Total Students*

142,647

Farm to School Participation

75.6% (31)

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 Delaware

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

Length of farm to school participation by SFAs in Delaware

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

	Percent of F2S SFAs	Number of F2S SFAs
Less than 3 years	35.5%	11
3-5 years	9.7%	3
6-10 years	12.9%	4
More than 10 years	41.9%	13

Farm to school participation in Delaware

Farm to school is growing in Delaware! 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.

Delaware 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 Delaware 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 Delaware are leveraging local foods.

	Percent of SFAs	Number of SFAs
Use local foods in NSLP	68.3%	28
Use local foods in SBP	61%	25
Use local foods in the FFVP	29.3%	12
Use local foods in CACFP	17.1%	7
Use local foods in CACFP At-Risk	29.3%	12
Use local foods in SFSP/SSO	39%	16

Delaware SFAs providing food, nutrition, or agricultural education

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

Delaware 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 Delaware

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

	Percent of SFAs	Number of SFAs
Hold taste tests & cooking demos	24.4%	10
Use USDA Team Nutrition materials	14.6%	6
Hold student field trips to farms	24.4%	10
Have farmers visit	7.3%	3

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	41.5%	17
Serve local vegetables at least weekly	29.3%	12
Serve local milk at least weekly	68.3%	28
Serve other local dairy at least weekly	24.4%	10
Serve local protein at least weekly	0%	0
Serve local grains at least weekly	17.1%	7

Delaware (DE)

State Profile for Delaware

Key Census Findings for Delaware