North Dakota celebrates Farm to School month with local foods, Goehring announces upcoming grant opportunity.

What this means

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Official release

Source material from North Dakota Department of Agriculture. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

Bismarck, ND – Menoken School will showcase North Dakota-grown and produced foods on Tuesday, Oct. 27, during Pride of Dakota Fresh School Lunch Day. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction Amanda Peterson will join students for a lunch featuring all local products. Additionally, local producer Legendary Greens will bring the Strengthen ND Veggie Van to the school for a brief lunch and learn lesson on microgreens.

The event is part of North Dakota Farm to School Month, which highlights connections between schools and local food producers and encourages schools to serve more North Dakota products. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture is also opening applications for the Pride of Dakota Local Foods Grant on Nov. 2 to help schools purchase products from Pride of Dakota members.

“Highlighting North Dakota food products grown by our farmers and ranchers and processed by local businesses helps students learn how their food is raised and produced,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “School lunch programs can also help local economies by buying these locally produced and processed foods.”

“Farm to School is a strong example of how North Dakota schools and agricultural partners work together to put students first,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Levi Bachmeier said. “The program highlights the strong connection between our classrooms and North Dakota’s agricultural communities. Connecting school lunch with local producers, our students gain real-world learning and a deeper appreciation for the resources that sustain our state.”

Pride of Dakota Local Foods Grant

A Pride of Dakota Local Foods Grant will provide $20,000 to help schools incorporate more locally produced foods into their meal programs. Individual grants will range from $2,000 to $4,000. North Dakota schools and school districts operating child nutrition programs are eligible to apply and must provide a 50% match.

Applications must be submitted electronically between Nov. 2 and Nov. 30, 2026. Application materials and additional information will be available on the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s website.

For questions about the grant program, contact Local Foods Marketing Specialist Jenna Nieters at (701) 328-2659 or localfoods@nd.gov.

October is recognized nationwide as Farm to School Month, celebrating the role of local foods in school meals and the relationships among students, schools, farmers, ranchers and food producers.

Release text attributed to North Dakota Department of Agriculture. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.