Indiana (IN)

Explore information on farm to school participation by Indiana (IN) 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 Indiana.

State Profile for Indiana

Total School Food Authorities (SFAs)

574

Total Schools*

2,084

Total Students*

1,074,259

Farm to School Participation

68.6% (394)

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 Indiana

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

Length of farm to school participation by SFAs in Indiana

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

	Percent of F2S SFAs	Number of F2S SFAs
Less than 3 years	62.4%	246
3-5 years	17.5%	69
6-10 years	8.6%	34
More than 10 years	10.2%	40

Farm to school participation in Indiana

Farm to school is growing in Indiana! 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.

Indiana 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 Indiana 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 Indiana are leveraging local foods.

	Percent of SFAs	Number of SFAs
Use local foods in NSLP	50.7%	291
Use local foods in SBP	36.4%	209
Use local foods in the FFVP	8.9%	51
Use local foods in CACFP	3.8%	22
Use local foods in CACFP At-Risk	4%	23
Use local foods in SFSP/SSO	17.8%	102

Indiana SFAs providing food, nutrition, or agricultural education

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

Indiana 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 Indiana

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

	Percent of SFAs	Number of SFAs
Hold taste tests & cooking demos	11.7%	67
Use USDA Team Nutrition materials	7.1%	41
Hold student field trips to farms	19.3%	111
Have farmers visit	5.7%	33

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	38.2%	219
Serve local vegetables at least weekly	37.1%	213
Serve local milk at least weekly	45.1%	259
Serve other local dairy at least weekly	11.7%	67
Serve local protein at least weekly	8.9%	51
Serve local grains at least weekly	14.8%	85

Indiana (IN)

State Profile for Indiana

Key Census Findings for Indiana