Farm to Kids First Bite Grant
The Farm to Kids First Bite Grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture helps schools and early childhood centers begin sourcing and serving Minnesota-grown foods in their meal programs.
Funder: Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Due Dates: October 15, 2026: Applications due
Funding Amounts: $2,500–$5,000 per First Bite Grant; up to $1.22 million available overall; optional Equipment Grant up to $20,000 (requires 1:1 match)
Summary: Supports Minnesota K-12 schools and early childhood centers in starting to purchase and serve locally grown foods in federal meal programs.
Key Information: First Bite Grant is for new Farm to Kids participants only; previous recipients are ineligible.
Description
The Farm to Kids First Bite Grant, administered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s AGRI Program, is designed to help Minnesota schools and early childhood education (ECE) centers with little or no previous experience begin sourcing and serving locally grown or raised foods in their federal meal programs. The grant aims to foster foundational skills and knowledge for integrating local foods into school and early care meals, building connections between local producers and educational institutions, and supporting Minnesota’s agricultural economy.
