10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids and Farms 2023-2024 Legislative Report
DOWNLOADApril 24, 2025 - Michigan Department of Education, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Print
Email10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms provides schools, early care and education sites, and other organizations participating in USDA Child Nutrition programs with grant funds to pay for Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans to strengthen the local food supply chain and enrich nutrition and educational experiences for children in Michigan.
10 Cents a Meal is implemented by the Michigan Department of Education with support from Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, and Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.
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. The data presented in this report is based on preliminary evaluation of data collected from three electronic evaluation surveys. Out of 269 grantees, 242 responded to the surveys and 230 provided purchasing data.
This report outlines the impacts for children and food programs, in addition to the impacts on the local food economy.
Program Goals
- Improve daily nutrition and eating habits for children through local purchasing.
- Invest in Michigan agriculture and related local food business economy.
- Build and expand farm to school partnerships— including teachers, parents, vendors, and local growers.
- Provide education and marketing, including meal promotion, nutrition and agriculture education, and promotion to families and communities.
2023-2024 Program Year Overview
- 269 school districts, early care and education sites (ECEs), and other childcare sponsors were awarded over $9.1 million in funding.
- Throughout the year, 242 different grantees shared information through electronic evaluation surveys and 230 grantees shared purchasing information.
- Grantees were comprised of 249 schools and districts, 19 childcare sites, and one community feeding site across the state.
- Additionally, 70 childcare centers and family day care home providers participated in a pilot program through 10 Cents a Meal.
- Collectively, grantees served over 590,000 children in 66 of Michigan’s 83 counties.
- Similar to previous years, grantees reported differing levels of experience purchasing local foods for food programs:
- 24% indicated that they had 10 years or more of experience (58 out of 251 grantees) while 19% indicated that they were newer to purchasing local foods (48 grantees), with one year or less of experience before participating in 10 Cents a Meal.
This report is authored by:
