New York State Farm-to-School Grant Program 2026

Release Request for Proposals (RFP) December 11, 2025 Informational Workshop Registration Link January 7, 2026, 1:00 pm Farm to School 2026 Information Workshop registration - State of NY Enterprise Webex Question and Answer Period Final Questions and Answers Posted December 11, 2025 – February 6, 2026 February 20, 2026 Deadline for Applications March 19, 2026, 3:00 pm Announcement of Grant Awards July 2026 Information Workshop webinare for RFP0378 Farm to School 2026 - https://youtu.be/kj3UvT2oJVs Program Description The objective of the New York State Farm-to-School Competitive Grants Program is to increase school’s purchase of New York farm products by building relationships between schools and New York farm product suppliers. Secondary goals of the program include increasing agricultural education opportunities for students, improving nutrition and exposing students to new, local, culinary experiences. Funding Available A total of $1,500,000 is available for the Farm-to-School Competitive Grants Program. $450,000 will be set aside for first-time recipients. Unused funds from the first-time applicant pool may be rolled over to the rest of applications, if they are not exhausted. Grant awards may range from $50,000 to $150,000. Applicants may apply for only one grant per funding period. Applicants must apply for $50,000 to $150,000. Eligible applicants include: · K-12 School Food Authorities receiving National School Lunch Program funds · Not-for-profit K-12 Schools not participating in the National School Lunch Program, but still operating a school food program · Charter schools · Not-for-profit organizations · Indian tribal organizations PLEASE NOTE: Applicants must be registered and pre-qualified in SFS. Applicants who are not registered or whose document vaults have expired will be disqualified. See Section 5 below for instructions on registering, qualifying and maintaining pre-qualification. Public schools are exempt from pre-qualification. Registration and pre-qualification may take several weeks to complete, it is recommended to start the process as soon as possible. Ineligible Applicants: · For-Profit organizations · Individuals Business enterprises awarded an identical or substantially similar procurement contract within the past five years: Cornell Cooperative Extension Franklin County Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES Comfort Food of Washington County Inc Attica Central School District Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School Rural Health Network of SCNY, Inc Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County Salamanca City School District Syracuse City School District Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties Sullivan Catskills Regional Food Hub Inc. North Colonie Central School District Cornell Cooperative Extension Essex County Poughkeepsie Farm Project Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) SDVOB Goal: 6.00% Minority / Women Business Enterprise contracting goals (MWBE) MBE Goal: 15.00% WBE Goal: 15.00%