Michigan's 10 Cents a Meal Program: Innovative Design Elements that Stand Out Nationwide
DOWNLOADMay 28, 2026 - Cassandra Bull
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EmailLaunched as a regional pilot in 2016, 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms (10 Cents a Meal) is known as one of the first local food purchasing incentive (LFPI) programs in the country. By 2026, around 20 states and Washington, DC have adopted unique, state-funded LFPIs that reflect their distinct policy contexts, priorities, and agricultural resources.
Drawing from survey research and complementing the National Farm to School Network’s ongoing examination of LFPI adoption and implementation nationwide, this brief synthesizes the unique design elements that make 10 Cents a Meal stand out.
Key Themes are:
- It began as a pilot and grew over time.
- It puts students’ nutrition first.
- It doubles its impact through a matching requirement.
- It funds partners to support evaluation and technical assistance.
- It uniquely leverages federal entitlement dollars.
- It recently expanded reimbursement beyond food costs.
- It requires reporting on farm origin.
- It invested in high-quality online training.
The National Farm to School Network and Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems collaborated to analyze responses from a November 2025 survey to understand how Michigan’s 10 Cents a Meal influenced the adoption and replication of LFPIs elsewhere. See the additional publication: How Michigan Shaped the Field: The National Impact of Michigan’s 10 Cents A Meal Program.
Suggested Citation
Bull, C. (2026). Innovative Design Elements that Stand Out Nationwide: Michigan’s 10 Cents a Meal Program. National Farm to School Network and Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/innovative-design-elements-that-stand-out-nationwide
This work was conducted through funding support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
