Virginia (VA)

Explore information on farm to school participation by Virginia (VA) 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 Virginia.

State Profile for Virginia

Total School Food Authorities (SFAs)

154

Total Schools*

1,972

Total Students*

1,252,259

Farm to School Participation

88.3% (136)

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 Virginia

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

Length of farm to school participation by SFAs in Virginia

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

	Percent of F2S SFAs	Number of F2S SFAs
Less than 3 years	27.2%	37
3-5 years	29.4%	40
6-10 years	22.8%	31
More than 10 years	19.9%	27

Farm to school participation in Virginia

Farm to school is growing in Virginia! 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.

Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia are leveraging local foods.

	Percent of SFAs	Number of SFAs
Use local foods in NSLP	82.5%	127
Use local foods in SBP	67.5%	104
Use local foods in the FFVP	23.4%	36
Use local foods in CACFP	8.4%	13
Use local foods in CACFP At-Risk	30.5%	47
Use local foods in SFSP/SSO	50%	77

Virginia SFAs providing food, nutrition, or agricultural education

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

Virginia 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 Virginia

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

	Percent of SFAs	Number of SFAs
Hold taste tests & cooking demos	29.9%	46
Use USDA Team Nutrition materials	13.6%	21
Hold student field trips to farms	24.7%	38
Have farmers visit	19.5%	30

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	57.8%	89
Serve local vegetables at least weekly	51.3%	79
Serve local milk at least weekly	48.7%	75
Serve other local dairy at least weekly	11.7%	18
Serve local protein at least weekly	11.7%	18
Serve local grains at least weekly	13%	20

Virginia (VA)

State Profile for Virginia

Key Census Findings for Virginia