Center for Regional Food Systems

10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids & Farms is a state-funded program that matches what schools and early care and education (ECE) sites spend on Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans with grants of up to 10 cents per meal. It is administered by the Michigan Department of Education. The Michigan Department of Education submits a report every year to the state legislature about 10 Cents a Meal, to which 10 Cents partners contribute. This report outlines how many different fruits, vegetables, and dry beans school and ECE grantees purchased last year with the grant, how many farms grew that food and where they are located, and how many additional businesses were impacted.

Program Goals

• Improve daily nutrition and eating habits for children through the school and early childhood setting.
• Invest in Michigan agriculture and related local food business economy.

Program Year Overview

• Collectively, grantees served nearly 585,000 children in 57 of Michigan’s 83 counties.
• In the 2021-2022 program, 257 school districts, early care and education sites (ECEs), and other child care sponsors were awarded over $2 million in funding.
• Grantees were comprised of 206 public school districts, 9 non-public schools, 5 residential child care institutions (RCCIs), 3 other non-school recipients (ONSR), and 34 ECEs across the state.

Impacts for Students and Young Children

• Grantees reported trying for the first time 35 types of vegetables and 15 types of fruits.
• The top ten new Michigan-grown foods reported by food program managers in surveys (in order) were apples, blueberries, cherries, carrots, asparagus, peaches, potatoes, pears, cucumbers, and green beans.
• Eight grantees reported purchasing Michigan-grown dry beans.

Impacts for Local Food Economy

• Grantees purchased more than 60 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and dry beans grown by over 175 farms in 42 counties according to invoices.
• An additional 41 businesses such as distributors, processors, packers, and food hubs were impacted.
• Over half of grantees (52%) reported that participation in 10 Cents a Meal allowed them to make connections with new farmers or suppliers, and 54% reported that participation improved existing relationships with farmers or local food suppliers.

This report is authored by:

• Michigan Department of Education
• Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities
• Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems