Farm to School Lunch Across America
The Henry Ford’s Farm to School Lunch Across America is an initiative to amplify the importance of farm fresh, seasonal meals for schoolchildren across the United States. By building a coalition of culinary experts, world-renowned chefs, farmers, food advocates and policymakers, The Henry Ford is bringing focus to the need for free, accessible, regeneratively grown school lunches made from locally sourced, in-season ingredients.
Farm to School Lunch Across America is funded in part by Ford Philanthropy.
Our Vision
The Farm to School Lunch Across America program aims to:
- Build coalitions around the need for locally sourced, in-season, regeneratively farmed and free lunches for K-12 schoolchildren across America, leading to long-term positive change in school lunch meals.
- Educate students and their communities on the importance of eating local, seasonal and nutritious meals and how this can positively impact the environment.
- Encourage the procurement of food directly from farmers and producers who take care of the land and their workers.
Our Impact
Throughout October 2024, The Henry Ford's Farm to School Lunch Across America took its mission and message on the road. Through a series of impact experiences at seven schools in six communities across the nation, the pilot program connected students and communities with local farmers, chefs and fresh food resources during National Farm to School Month.
Starting right at home at Henry Ford Academy in Dearborn, Michigan, then reaching from California to Illinois, Farm to School Lunch Across America provided special chef-created, locally sourced, cooked-from-scratch lunches to students at each participating school. Every meal featured in-season, locally sourced ingredients and was tailored to the diverse communities where the schools are located.
Stay tuned for more information about the 2025 Farm to School Lunch Across America program.
 | "We believe this coalition will not only amplify the national conversation around the need for free, regeneratively grown school lunches for all schoolchildren across the country, but also shine a light on farmers, who through smart agricultural practices are positively impacting the environment." |
Get Involved
Interested in learning more or participating in The Henry Ford’s Farm to School Lunch Across America? Please reach out to:
Christy Sherding, christys@thf.org
Director of Donor Relations + Engagement and Edible Education Initiatives Leader
Spence Medford, spencem@thf.org
Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer
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