Farm to Kids Program - Full Tray Grant

The AGRI Farm to Kids Full Tray Grant is administered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture through the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation Program. AGRI was established to advance Minnesota's agricultural and renewable energy industries, including by increasing productivity, improving efficiency, and supporting the development of agricultural products. The Farm to Kids programs are intended to help schools and early childhood education centers purchase foods grown or raised in Minnesota and, where applicable, obtain kitchen equipment that supports Farm to Kids efforts. The Full Tray Grant specifically serves applicants that already have some experience with local food procurement and Farm to Kids programming. The Full Tray Grant supports Minnesota K-12 schools and school districts participating in the National School Lunch Program and Minnesota early childhood education centers participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. CACFP sponsors may apply on behalf of eligible ECE centers under the conditions stated in the RFP. Grant funds must be used to purchase foods grown or raised in Minnesota for use in eligible federal meal programs, including NSLP, SBP, SFSP, SSO, and CACFP. Eligible foods include qualifying whole, minimally processed, and processed foods. Whole or minimally processed foods must generally be at least 80 percent grown or raised in Minnesota. Processed foods must contain at least one primary ingredient, excluding water, that is at least 80 percent grown or raised in Minnesota, and processed items require MDA approval as Minnesota-eligible food purchases. Full Tray applicants may request a minimum of $5,000 and a maximum of $25,000, subject to the meal-based formulas in the RFP. K-12 funding eligibility is calculated from reimbursable NSLP and SBP breakfasts and lunches served in October 2025, multiplied by $0.10 and then by 12 months. ECE funding is similarly based on reimbursable CACFP meals and snacks served in October 2025. Applicants whose formula produces an eligible amount below $5,000 may request up to $5,000, although MDA reserves the right to award less than the requested minimum. A 1:1 cash match is required, meaning applicants must provide at least 50 percent of total project costs as cash match. Donated and in-kind contributions and costs incurred before contract execution cannot satisfy the match. Full Tray applicants may also request an Equipment Grant of up to $20,000, which has a separate 1:1 cash match and is not guaranteed by receipt of a Full Tray award. Eligible projects must expand procurement and consumption of foods grown or raised in Minnesota, demonstrate how grant funds will create new or increased Farm to Kids purchases, take place at eligible Minnesota schools or ECE locations, and be completed by December 31, 2029. Ineligible food expenses include fluid milk, donated agricultural products, food from school or university gardens or farms, products grown or produced outside Minnesota, food for programs outside the listed federal child nutrition programs, seeds and garden equipment, and staff time. Other ineligible costs include expenditures incurred outside the authorized grant period, wages and benefits, consumable supplies, cash-paid expenses, marketing and promotional items, most taxes other than eligible sales tax, finance charges, double-funded costs, and certain purchases involving conflicts of interest. Equipment costs may include equipment, shipping, sales tax, and associated installation costs when the equipment directly supports Farm to Kids activities. Applications must be submitted through MDA's online application system. New users must first create an account and then select the Farm to Kids Full Tray Grant application. The Equipment Grant request is incorporated into the Full Tray application. Required application content includes applicant and contact information, eligibility certifications and attestations, previous State of Minnesota grant information, a project title and public project description, narratives addressing Farm to Kids experience and plans, impact on Minnesota agriculture, diversity of agricultural products and producers, student and community engagement, organizational capacity, a work plan and timeline, and a detailed food budget showing the grant request and required cash match. Applicants must upload a signed Authority to Apply Letter. At least one letter of support from a producer who will benefit from the award is required, with additional requirements for applicants purchasing through distributors and for CACFP sponsors applying on behalf of ECE centers. Applications are competitively reviewed in two phases. Phase one uses a 100-point Full Tray evaluation profile covering Farm to Kids plans, impact on Minnesota agriculture, priority areas, student and community engagement, measurable outcomes, work plan and timeline, budget and narrative, proposal clarity and completeness, and letters of support. MDA staff and external reviewers make recommendations, and the commissioner of agriculture makes award decisions. Geographic distribution, service to prioritized areas or stakeholders, prior state-grantee performance, compliance, and organizational capacity may also be considered. Applicants advancing to phase two undergo SWIFT vendor verification and a pre-award risk assessment and may need to provide financial, internal-control, conflict-of-interest, and prior-performance documentation. The RFP was posted August 10, 2026, and applications are due by 4 p.m. Central Time on October 15, 2026. Written program questions are due by 4 p.m. Central Time on October 8, 2026 and should be sent to f2sgrants.mda@state.mn.us with Full Tray Grant in the subject line. Online application assistance is available at 651-201-6500 or f2sgrants.mda@state.mn.us. Phase one review is planned for October through November 2026, phase two pre-award risk assessment for December 2026, and award notifications for January through February 2027. Projects are expected to begin in February or March 2027, with grant agreements anticipated to start in March 2027 and end December 31, 2029. Expenditures may begin only after the agreement is fully executed, has reached its effective date, and the grantee has been authorized to begin work. The RFP does not explicitly establish an annual or other recurring application schedule.

Address the published evaluation criteria directly; demonstrate increased purchasing and consumption of Minnesota-grown or Minnesota-raised foods; show sourcing from a variety of Minnesota farmers and producers including small- and mid-sized producers; include a wide range of agricultural products including culturally relevant foods and specialty crops; build strong cafeteria-classroom-community connections; document realistic sourcing and procurement plans; provide a thorough realistic work plan and budget; clearly show the 1:1 cash match and its source; obtain strong producer and partner support letters; use plain easily understood language and answer every question completely; submit at least 24 hours early