This year New York has an important opportunity to strengthen Farm to School programs and get more New York–grown and raised food onto students’ trays across the state.

New York’s K–12 schools serve breakfast, lunch, snacks, and afterschool meals to 2.7 million schoolchildren, providing half of their daily calories on average. Farm to School programs are a proven way to improve children’s health and academic outcomes while creating reliable markets for New York farmers. Since 2018, the Farm to School Grant Program and the 30% NYS Initiative have worked hand in hand to help schools increase purchases of local food.

An October 2025 audit by the Office of the New York State Comptroller found that participation in the 30% Initiative remains limited. Only 73 out of 762 school food authorities (SFAs) outside New York City were actively participating. Among SFAs surveyed statewide, 42% cited administrative challenges—particularly tracking lunch purchases separately from breakfast and snacks—as a barrier to participation. As a result, just $2.9 million (29%) of the $10 million appropriated to the program was reimbursed in the 2024–25 school year.

Progress in the One-House Budgets

We are encouraged that both the Assembly and Senate One-House budgets take an important step forward by allowing breakfast and reimbursable snack purchases to count toward the 30% New York food purchasing threshold. This change better reflects how school meal programs actually operate and responds directly to concerns raised by school nutrition professionals.

However, including additional meals without the modernization provisions contained in A.6619A / S.5057A could unintentionally make it harder for districts to remain eligible—even if they continue purchasing the same amount of New York-grown food.

Without transition protections and updates to the reimbursement structure, some current participants could be pushed out of the program as purchasing calculations change—undermining the program’s core goal of supporting schools and New York farmers.

Policymakers in Albany are now negotiating the final state budget. Act now to urge your state representatives to build on the progress in the One-House budgets and ensure the 30% NYS Initiative continues to work as intended.

Our Coalition Asks

Please ensure the final enacted budget includes the following:

• Maintains at least $10 million for reimbursing local food purchases through the 30% NYS Initiative
• Maintains at least $1.5 million for the New York Farm to School Grant Program to help schools expand Farm to School efforts statewide
• Retains inclusion of breakfast and reimbursable snacks toward the 30% purchasing threshold
• Includes transition protections so current participating districts are not pushed out of the program
• Updates the reimbursement structure so schools can continue purchasing New York–grown food and the program remains financially viable

These updates will help the 30% NYS Initiative continue doing what it was designed to do—support school meal programs while strengthening markets for New York farmers.

With just one click on the “Take Action” button, enter your information and send a customizable letter directly to your state representatives urging them to support strong funding and smart, workable improvements to New York’s Farm to School programs.