Rhode Island (RI)

Explore information on farm to school participation by Rhode Island (RI) 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 Rhode Island.

State Profile for Rhode Island

Total School Food Authorities (SFAs)
80
Total Schools*
318
Total Students*
67,980
Farm to School Participation
77.5% (62)
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 Rhode Island

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

Length of farm to school participation by SFAs in Rhode Island

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

Percent of F2S SFAs Number of F2S SFAs
Less than 3 years
 
 22.6%
14
3-5 years
 
 50%
31
6-10 years
 
 11.3%
7
More than 10 years
 
 16.1%
10
What is an SFA? Is it different from a school district?
224 schools

49,047 students in participating SFAs

Food tray

Farm to school participation in Rhode Island

Farm to school is growing in Rhode Island! 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.
72.5%

58 SFAs

Apple cars

Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island are leveraging local foods.

Percent of SFAs Number of SFAs
Use local foods in NSLP
 
 63.8%
51
Use local foods in SBP
 
 57.5%
46
Use local foods in the FFVP
 
 28.8%
23
Use local foods in CACFP
 
 3.8%
3
Use local foods in CACFP At-Risk
 
 11.3%
9
Use local foods in SFSP/SSO
 
 25%
20
57.5%

46 SFAs

Teacher with class

Rhode Island SFAs providing food, nutrition, or agricultural education

Farm to school activities include experiential learning in the classroom, in the garden, and on the farm. Rhode Island SFAs offer opportunities such as taste testing, school gardening, and farm field trips.
13.8%

11 SFAs

Vegetable garden

Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

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

Percent of SFAs Number of SFAs
Hold taste tests & cooking demos
 
 43.8%
35
Use USDA Team Nutrition materials
 
 3.8%
3
Hold student field trips to farms
 
 20%
16
Have farmers visit
 
 13.8%
11

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
 
 45% 36
Serve local vegetables at least weekly
 
 42.5% 34
Serve local milk at least weekly
 
 50% 40
Serve other local dairy at least weekly
 
 17.5% 14
Serve local protein at least weekly
 
 6.3% 5
Serve local grains at least weekly
 
 23.8% 19

Find detailed results for a School Food Authority (SFA) in RI

Search for an SFA in RI

Search by Location

What is an SFA? Is it different from a school district?

Find Another State

Change State