Farm to School Act of 2023

S 3129, the Farm to School Act of 2023, expands federal support for programs connecting schools and early childhood programs with local farmers. It increases annual funding for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program from $5 million to $15 million, sets a $500,000 maximum grant amount per recipient, and requires projects to prioritize serving children from disadvantaged backgrounds or incorporating traditional Tribal foods. The bill mandates the Secretary to review regulatory barriers affecting local food procurement every three years and explicitly prioritizes projects involving Tribal agricultural producers, beginning farmers, and socially disadvantaged producers. Directly affecting schools, local farmers, Tribal communities, and land-grant colleges, it creates new mechanisms for procurement, educational activities, and improved distribution systems for locally sourced food.