The Farm to School Act of 2023 updates and expands the federal program that connects schools and other institutions with local farmers and food producers. The bill broadens eligible recipients to include colleges, universities, and early childhood programs, not just K-12 schools, and expands eligible activities to include farm and garden planting, local food procurement, and agricultural education. The legislation increases annual funding from $5 million to $15 million and allows individual grants up to $500,000 for projects lasting up to three years, while establishing a process for waiving matching fund requirements to reduce barriers for disadvantaged applicants. The bill also requires the Department of Agriculture to review and report on regulatory and other barriers to farm-to-school programs and gives priority to projects serving tribal communities and children from low-income backgrounds. The authorization covers fiscal years 2023 through 2028.
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