Published on October 14, 2025

This week, October 12–18, is Farm to CACFP (Child and Adult Food Program) Week, the  national education campaign that aims to raise awareness of the benefits of connecting child and adult care sponsors and operators with local foods.  

FRAC has been a longtime supporter of Farm to CACFP/Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) initiatives, because, when combined, these activities can have an extraordinary impact on children, child care providers, and local communities.  

The role of early care and education programs in feeding young children is  vital to ensuring their short- and long-term health and well-being. Connecting local food, gardening, and nutrition education with early childhood settings offers an important opportunity to improve the quality of the meals served.  

Why Farm to ECE and CACFP Matter 

CACFP reimburses providers for meals and snacks, currently 1.5 billion meals a year. When paired with Farm to ECE, CACFP dollars can stretch further by: 

  • boosting nutrition with fresh fruits and vegetables; 
  • building healthy habits as kids learn where food comes from; and 
  • supporting local farmers and strengthening community food systems. 

Call to Action 

Funding is critical to sustaining the Farm to CACFP/ECE program. . Policymakers, advocates, and funders can: 

  • Expand technical support and training for providers. 
  • Build infrastructure linking child care programs with local farmers. 
  • Expand funding streams for Farm to CACFP projects. 

 Learn more about Farm to ECE with FRAC’s resources: Leveraging CACFP for Farm to Early Care and Education and Enhancing Young Children’s Access to Local Foods and Farm to ECE: Federal Funding Guide. 

 Learn more and join Farm to CACFP activities by visiting the National CACFP Association’s website.