Outcomes and Recommendations from the Maine Farm and Sea to School Institute

(2025) - While FTS Institutes are expanding across the United States, there remains a lack of evidence-based training frameworks to guide their implementation in rural schools. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the ME-FSTSI as a training framework to support FTS activities in participating schools.

An Introduction to State-Level Policies to Support Farm to School Local Food Purchasing Since 2020

National Farm to School Network (2024) - Learn more about state-level policies that support farm to school local food purchasing in this resource.

USDA's Local Food for Schools & Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Programs: Lessons From Our Network

This policy brief provides more detailed information about the projects supported by LFS and LFPA and the involvement of NFSN partners at the state level.

State Farm to School Policy Handbook: 2002-2023

National Farm to School Network (2025) - A tool for those working to advance the farm to school movement. This newest edition summarizes and analyzes every farm to school and early care and education (ECE) bill and resolution introduced from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2023, across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories.

Strategies to Center Youth in School Meals for All Advocacy 

National Farm to School Network (2024) - This resource provides a series of strategies to engage youth in School Meals for All and Farm to School Advocacy as well as recommendations to do so in a mutually beneficial and empowering way.

Meal Participation Continues to Rise in States After Two Years of Healthy School Meals for All

National Farm to School Network (2024) - This resource presents an analysis of meal participation in four states — California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont — that have implemented two full school years (SYs) of permanent Healthy School Meals for All policies.

The Story of School Meals for All in Maine 

National Farm to School Network (2023) - “Who’s At the Table? A Case Study of LD 1679: How Farm to School and Anti-Hunger Advocates Passed Healthy School Meals for All” details the incremental work by a coalition of partners that led to the passage of School Meals for All legislation in Maine.

Equity in Farm to School 

Maine Farm to School Network (2023) - This resource packet was created by the MFSN Equity committee to support the participating Maine Farm & Sea to School Institute school teams on embedding racial and social equity into their farm & sea to school action plan

Policy Spotlight: Farm to School Grants for Producers

(2024) - This policy brief spotlights state grant programs in California and Oregon that have funding tracks specifically for producers.

Harvest of the Month Implementation in Maine

Danielle Walczakrk (2017) - Maine Farm to Institution worked with researcher/author Danielle Walczak in 2017 to publish this report entitled "Harvest of the Month Implementation in Maine".  The report includes a summary of key elements of existing Harvest of the Month programs in New England and considerations/recommendations for the implementation of a Harvest of the Month program in Maine.

Kids Win and Farms Win: What Do We Know About the Impacts of Farm to School? (Webinar) 

NFSN (2019) - This webinar features researchers from Colorado State University and University of Illinois, highlighting recent and ongoing research and important areas for future farm to school work to use when advocating for FTS.

Local Food Purchasing Incentives 

Center for Regional Food Systems - This resource series seen below on LFPIs was produced through collaboration between the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) and the National Farm to School Network. This project aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on LFPIs and provide more information for farm to school advocates and practitioners nationwide. 

Advocating for Farm to School: How to Host Site Visits

National Farm to School Network (2023) - Showcasing your farm to school program in person is one of the most impactful ways to advocate for farm to school.

Universal Meals Policies Can Strengthen a Just and Resilient Local Food System

National Farm to School Network (2023) - Are you an advocate of universal school meals for all children? The National Farm to School Network has released a new resource as part of our “Who’s At the Table?” campaign, created to support the work of NFSN Partners, food system researchers, advocates, and policymakers.

Evaluating the Economic Impacts of Farm to School Procurement

NFSN (2018) - This paper presents a framework for evaluating the economic impacts of farm to school programs, adapting the USDA’s “Local Food Economics Toolkit” for this specific context.