It will assist you with being able to more quickly complete the survey. Maryland schools spent $18 million on local food served in schools according the  USDA Farm to School Census. Farm to school includes of all types of producers and food businesses including farmers and waterman as well as food processors, manufacturers, and distributors. Please use this tool to gather information from schools, other departments, staff, or vendors before filling out the Census. number of farm to school programs in the U.S. increased 430 percent between 2006 and 2012. The Census questionnaire primarily asked all U.S. public school districts about their farm to school activities during the 2011-2012 school year. USDA released today results from a nationwide Census of farm to school activities. As of the 2013-2014 USDA Farm to School Census, 5,254 school districts operating 42,587 schools with 23.6 million students are participating in farm to school. » Grades participating » Number of schools with edible school gardens, salad bars, and participating in farm to school activities » School meal programs involved » Sources (Direct and in-direct) FARM TO SCHOOL CENSUS PREPARATION WORKSHEET . Another 13 percent of school districts surveyed are committed to launching a farm to school program in the near future. Keep an eye out for the 2019 Farm to School Census … The Farm to School Census showed that adoption of farm to school activities is trending up; many schools that do not currently have farm to school programs are planning to start them, and millions of children are being exposed to healthy foods and learning about where food comes from. In order to establish realistic goals with regard to increasing the availability of local foods in schools, in 2013, USDA conducted the first nationwide Farm to School Census (the Census). It was first conducted in 2013, and a second survey was conducted in 2015 . This optional worksheet is designed to help you gather information you will be asked as part of the Census. We found that 43 percent of all public school districts have an existing farm to school program in place. 2019 Farm to School Census Overview This pre-recorded webinar was developed by the Office of Community Food Systems and is intended for School Food Authority representatives responsible for completing the 2019 Farm to School Census. The Farm to School Census demonstrates the innovative efforts of NSLP programs to provide healthy food and nutrition education to children, while supporting American agriculture and strengthening local communities, by reinforcing local control in production and purchasing. After reviewing existing farm to school survey instruments, an initial questionnaire was developed by USDA researchers and reviewed by external farm to school stakeholder groups. "The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) formally established a Farm to School Program within USDA to improve access to local foods in schools. Congratulations to all the school districts in Missouri conducting farm to school programs. Congratulations to all the school districts in New York conducting farm to school programs. Farm to School Census The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act was amended to formally establish a Farm to School Program within USDA to improve access to local foods in schools. 2019 Farm to School Census Overview This pre-recorded webinar was developed by the Office of Community Food Systems and is intended for School Food Authority representatives responsible for completing the 2019 Farm to School Census. USDA surveyed over 18,000 school districts regarding farm to school activities and approximately 70% of those surveyed responded.