North Carolina (NC)

Explore information on farm to school participation by North Carolina (NC) 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 North Carolina.

State Profile for North Carolina

Total School Food Authorities (SFAs)
214
Total Schools
2,530
Total Students
1,433,876
Farm to School Participation
66.8% (143)
of SFAs participating in SY 2022-23

Key Census Findings for North Carolina

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

Length of farm to school participation by SFAs in North Carolina

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

Percent of F2S SFAs Number of F2S SFAs
Less than 3 years
 
 42%
60
3-5 years
 
 18.9%
27
6-10 years
 
 14.7%
21
More than 10 years
 
 23.8%
34
What is an SFA? Is it different from a school district?
2,315 schools

1,320,901 students in participating SFAs

Food tray

Farm to school participation in North Carolina

Farm to school is growing in North Carolina! 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 do farm to school.
58.9%

126 SFAs

Apple cars

North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina are leveraging local foods.

Percent of SFAs Number of SFAs
Use local foods in NSLP
 
 55.6%
119
Use local foods in SBP
 
 49.1%
105
Use local foods in the FFVP
 
 14.5%
31
Use local foods in CACFP
 
 4.2%
9
Use local foods in CACFP At-Risk
 
 7.5%
16
Use local foods in SFSP/SSO
 
 35%
75
42.1%

90 SFAs

Teacher with class

North Carolina SFAs providing food, nutrition, or agricultural education

Farm to school activities include experiential learning in the classroom, in the garden, and on the farm. North Carolina SFAs offer opportunities such as taste testing, school gardening, and farm field trips.
6.5%

14 SFAs

Vegetable garden

North Carolina 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 North Carolina

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

Percent of SFAs Number of SFAs
Hold taste tests & cooking demos
 
 12.6%
27
Use USDA Team Nutrition materials
 
 7.5%
16
Hold student field trips to farms
 
 16.4%
35
Have farmers visit
 
 10.3%
22

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
 
 35% 75
Serve local vegetables at least weekly
 
 27.6% 59
Serve local milk at least weekly
 
 24.8% 53
Serve other local dairy at least weekly
 
 6.1% 13
Serve local protein at least weekly
 
 8.4% 18
Serve local grains at least weekly
 
 6.1% 13

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