Maryland (MD)

Explore information on farm to school participation by Maryland (MD) 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 Maryland.

State Profile for Maryland

Total School Food Authorities (SFAs)

Total Schools*

1,457

Total Students*

895,078

Farm to School Participation

85.4% (41)

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 Maryland

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

Length of farm to school participation by SFAs in Maryland

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

	Percent of F2S SFAs	Number of F2S SFAs
Less than 3 years	26.8%	11
3-5 years	29.3%	12
6-10 years	14.6%	6
More than 10 years	26.8%	11

Farm to school participation in Maryland

Farm to school is growing in Maryland! 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.

Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland are leveraging local foods.

	Percent of SFAs	Number of SFAs
Use local foods in NSLP	79.2%	38
Use local foods in SBP	58.3%	28
Use local foods in the FFVP	22.9%	11
Use local foods in CACFP	22.9%	11
Use local foods in CACFP At-Risk	39.6%	19
Use local foods in SFSP/SSO	54.2%	26

Maryland SFAs providing food, nutrition, or agricultural education

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

Maryland 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 Maryland

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

	Percent of SFAs	Number of SFAs
Hold taste tests & cooking demos	25%	12
Use USDA Team Nutrition materials	4.2%	2
Hold student field trips to farms	18.8%	9
Have farmers visit	12.5%	6

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	52.1%	25
Serve local vegetables at least weekly	45.8%	22
Serve local milk at least weekly	72.9%	35
Serve other local dairy at least weekly	25%	12
Serve local protein at least weekly	14.6%	7
Serve local grains at least weekly	27.1%	13

Maryland (MD)

State Profile for Maryland

Key Census Findings for Maryland