CA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program

CDFA is seeking public comment for the Cohort 4 California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program’s draft request for applications (RFA). The RFA is open to public comment from August 18, 2026, to 5 p.m. PST September 11, 2026.

Three live information sessions will be held in English and one will be held in Spanish to provide an overview of the RFA and allow time for questions and public comments. The live information sessions are:

Stakeholders may submit comments during live information sessions or submit a comment online.

Cohort 4 Documents for Public Review and Comment

The 2023-24 California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program is focused on supporting projects that cultivate equity, nurture students, build climate resilience, and create scalable and sustainable change.

Grant Awards

As part of California’s nation-leading investment in farm to school programs, the California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) awarded $52.8 million in funding for 195 farm to school projects across the state. Collectively, these projects serve 1,650,985 students, 199 school districts and educational entities, 52 farms, eight food hubs and five California Native American Tribes.

The 2022 California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program is focused on supporting projects that cultivate equity, nurture students, build climate resilience, and create scalable and sustainable change.

Grant Awards

In 2022, as part of California's nation-leading investment in farm to school programs, CDFA-F2F awarded $25.5 million in funding for 120 farm to school projects across the state. In total, these projects represent 1,489,364 students, 163 school districts and educational entities, over 50 farms, four food hubs and enormous support from California's urban, rural and suburban communities.

• Read the full announcement here.
• List of 2022 CA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program Award Recipients
• Read the 2022 CA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program Project Summaries

Resources

• Press Release
• 2022 Request for Applications
• Track 1 Application Questions and Review Criteria
• Track 2 Application Questions and Review Criteria
• Track 3 Application Questions and Review Criteria
• Track 4 Application Questions and Review Criteria
• 2022 Webinar Slide Deck
• 2022 Frequently Asked Questions
• 2022 Questions and Answers
• Public Info Session Slide Deck
• Public Info Session Recording
• Summary of Public Comments and CDFA Responses

The 2021 California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program is focused on supporting local and regional farm to school projects that promote nutrition education, sustainable food production and procurement, and high-quality student experience.

Grant Awards

In 2021, CDFA-F2F awarded $8.496 million in grants to 60 Farm to School projects throughout the state through two funding tracks!

• 2021 Farm to School Incubator Grant Program Awardees

Resources

• 2021 Request for Applications
• 2021 Webinar Recording
• 2021 Farm to School Incubator Grant Program Q&A
• 2021 Summary of Public Comments and Responses