{"id":82573,"date":"2026-07-13T18:30:53","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T01:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=82573"},"modified":"2026-07-13T18:30:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T01:30:53","slug":"governor-newsom-signs-legislation-securing-permanent-funding-for-nation-leading-farm-to-school-program-championed-by-first-partner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=82573","title":{"rendered":"Governor Newsom signs legislation securing permanent funding for nation-leading Farm to School Program championed by First Partner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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SACRAMENTO \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0Governor Gavin Newsom today signed SB 172, which permanently establishes California\u2019s nation-leading Farm to School Program into state law, ensuring children across the state continue to receive local farm-fresh nutritious school meals. This follows the Governor and First Partner\u2019s recent announcement that\u00a0nearly 3.5 billion free school meals<\/a>\u00a0have been served since 2021, improving meal quality and access while reducing hunger for millions of families.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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Governor Gavin Newsom, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, state leaders, and supporters of the Farm to School program.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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\u201c<\/span>California is leading the nation in supporting children\u2019s health by serving nutritious, locally grown school meals and providing food education that equips students with lifelong healthy habits. Supporting California farmers, local communities, and the health of California\u2019s children remains a top priority, which is why we have secured permanent funding for California’s nation-leading Farm to School Program.\u201d<\/h4>\n
Governor Gavin Newsom<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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\u201c<\/span>California\u2019s kids deserve access to school meals that are locally-sourced and full of nutrients to help them reach their full potential and thrive. Our Farm to School Program has been a lifeline for children across the state, not only providing free, healthy meals but strengthening local economies through food worker training and supporting California farmers and producers. I am thrilled to celebrate permanent funding for this vital program so we can continue giving kids the best start in life.\u201d<\/h4>\n
First Partner Jennifer Siebel\u00a0Newsom<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom petting goats at\u00a0Fiery Ginger Farm, a CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant awardee that provides ag-based learning opportunities for students and supplies K-12 local schools and institutions\u00a0with healthy, locally grown food.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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First Partner\u2019s leadership in the Farm to School initiative<\/h2>\n

The First Partner has championed California\u2019s\u00a0Farm to School Program<\/a>\u00a0to expand access to healthy, locally grown food for students. First launched in the 2021-2022 budget, the program has helped drive lasting change in California\u2019s school food system. Administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Office of Farm to Fork, the\u00a0Farm to School\u00a0<\/a>(F2S)\u00a0Incubator Grant program<\/a>\u00a0supports sustainable, local food procurement, minimally processed school meals programs, and hands-on education for students from early childhood education through 12th grade. With ongoing funding secured in Governor Newsom\u2019s\u00a02026-27 state budget<\/a>, in partnership with the Legislature, this program will continue to improve children\u2019s health while strengthening local food systems and creating new opportunities for small and mid-sized farmers.<\/p>\n

The initiative supports California farmers and local economies by helping schools purchase more food from nearby farms and producers, ensuring that more dollars stay within local communities. Through the F2S Incubator Grant Program, every\u00a0$1 invested leads to $2.10 of economic activity<\/a>\u00a0generated for communities, illustrating the bigger impact beyond the cafeteria.<\/p>\n

Lasting impact to children<\/h2>\n

Under the leadership of the Governor, the First Partner, and the Legislature, California allocated $60 million over two years in the 2021-2022 state budget to sustain and expand the\u00a0F2S Incubator Grant Program<\/a>, which connects local producers and school food buyers; increases food education in classrooms, gardens, and on farms; and engages schools and students with the agricultural community.\u00a0Since 2021, the Farm to School Incubator Grant Program has invested $86 million in 375 projects, benefitting 49% of all California public school students<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you Governor Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom for the many actions you have taken to support school children,\u201d\u00a0said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross<\/strong>. \u201cFarm to school programming helps students build lifelong relationships with nutritious food while providing consistent demand needed to sustain local small farmers. It has been a pleasure helping 49% of California students benefit from the Farm to School Incubator Grant Program so far, and CDFA looks forward to continuing this important work of sustaining local, resilient food systems.\u201d<\/p>\n

To date,\u00a080% of Incubator grantees are Title I schools and 100% of farmer grantees are small, mid-size, or socially\/economically disadvantaged producers (veterans, women, indigenous, people of color, and limited-resource farm households)<\/strong>. Additionally, 100% of producers funded through the grant program utilize climate smart, organic, and regenerative agricultural practices, providing a stable market for adoption.<\/p>\n

Here are a few success stories:<\/p>\n