Minnesota (MN)

Explore information on farm to school participation by Minnesota (MN) 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 Minnesota.

State Profile for Minnesota

Total School Food Authorities (SFAs)
652
Total Schools*
1,987
Total Students*
912,438
Farm to School Participation
72.1% (470)
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 Minnesota

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

Length of farm to school participation by SFAs in Minnesota

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

Percent of F2S SFAs Number of F2S SFAs
Less than 3 years
 
 48.5%
228
3-5 years
 
 24%
113
6-10 years
 
 18.7%
88
More than 10 years
 
 8.7%
41
What is an SFA? Is it different from a school district?
1,791 schools

893,732 students in participating SFAs

Food tray

Farm to school participation in Minnesota

Farm to school is growing in Minnesota! 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.
60%

391 SFAs

Apple cars

Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota are leveraging local foods.

Percent of SFAs Number of SFAs
Use local foods in NSLP
 
 53.5%
349
Use local foods in SBP
 
 33.4%
218
Use local foods in the FFVP
 
 12.6%
82
Use local foods in CACFP
 
 6.4%
42
Use local foods in CACFP At-Risk
 
 2.9%
19
Use local foods in SFSP/SSO
 
 19.5%
127
47.2%

308 SFAs

Teacher with class

Minnesota SFAs providing food, nutrition, or agricultural education

Farm to school activities include experiential learning in the classroom, in the garden, and on the farm. Minnesota SFAs offer opportunities such as taste testing, school gardening, and farm field trips.
18.3%

119 SFAs

Vegetable garden

Minnesota 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 Minnesota

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

Percent of SFAs Number of SFAs
Hold taste tests & cooking demos
 
 16.6%
108
Use USDA Team Nutrition materials
 
 7.1%
46
Hold student field trips to farms
 
 15%
98
Have farmers visit
 
 8.6%
56

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
 
 30.8% 201
Serve local vegetables at least weekly
 
 30.5% 199
Serve local milk at least weekly
 
 34.8% 227
Serve other local dairy at least weekly
 
 12.1% 79
Serve local protein at least weekly
 
 11.2% 73
Serve local grains at least weekly
 
 15.6% 102

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