Ohio (OH)

Explore information on farm to school participation by Ohio (OH) 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 Ohio.

State Profile for Ohio

Total School Food Authorities (SFAs)

1,247

Total Schools*

3,652

Total Students*

1,997,344

Farm to School Participation

66.3% (827)

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 Ohio

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

Length of farm to school participation by SFAs in Ohio

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

	Percent of F2S SFAs	Number of F2S SFAs
Less than 3 years	53.8%	445
3-5 years	25.3%	209
6-10 years	11.5%	95
More than 10 years	9.2%	76

Farm to school participation in Ohio

Farm to school is growing in Ohio! 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.

Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio are leveraging local foods.

	Percent of SFAs	Number of SFAs
Use local foods in NSLP	43.9%	547
Use local foods in SBP	33.2%	414
Use local foods in the FFVP	11.9%	148
Use local foods in CACFP	1%	13
Use local foods in CACFP At-Risk	1%	12
Use local foods in SFSP/SSO	8.6%	107

Ohio SFAs providing food, nutrition, or agricultural education

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

Ohio 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 Ohio

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

	Percent of SFAs	Number of SFAs
Hold taste tests & cooking demos	9.9%	124
Use USDA Team Nutrition materials	6.4%	80
Hold student field trips to farms	14.5%	181
Have farmers visit	4.3%	53

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	36.9%	460
Serve local vegetables at least weekly	33.7%	420
Serve local milk at least weekly	43.2%	539
Serve other local dairy at least weekly	13.5%	168
Serve local protein at least weekly	8.3%	104
Serve local grains at least weekly	20.4%	255

Ohio (OH)

State Profile for Ohio

Key Census Findings for Ohio