Center for Regional Food Systems

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) is pleased to share findings from a national survey exploring the interest and educational needs related to K–12 and ECE-based local food incentive programs.

Highlights from the survey include: 

• In addition to prioritizing local food, respondents were interested in incorporating other values into local food purchasing related to these incentive programs, such as support for agricultural producers of color and environmentally sound practices. 
• Almost all (97%) survey respondents indicated that they are interested in learning more about local food incentive programs. 

• There is need for more education about local food incentive programs, including learning about how existing programs are run, personnel and teams that support them, and tracking and reporting for participants. 

Policymakers, farm to school advocates, and food service professionals can use this report to inform efforts to implement and promote local food incentive programs. Additional information can be found in this recent webinar which also reviews different designs of statewide incentive programs across the country and outlines support available for policy advocacy and education.