The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is looking for proposals for two Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation grants that aim to increase local purchasing in Farm to School programs.

School districts across Minnesota could receive a total of $748,000 for purchasing Minnesota-grown and -raised foods used in school meal programs, through the MDA’s next round of AGRI Farm to School grants. School districts may apply for one of two grants:

• Farm to School First Bite Mini-Grant: Grants are intended for school districts that have little to no experience with local procurement as part of a Farm to School programming.
• Farm to School Full Tray Grant: Grants are intended for school districts that have some Farm to School procurement experience.