On average, school districts have only $1.20 to spend on school lunches, so 20 cents (10 cents from the state and 10 cents from the school) directed to local produce is a meaningful investment, and the extra dime gives schools the flexibility to try new things. Also, by focusing on locally grown food, the school can increase the nutrient quality of meals and the interest among children in eating healthy fruits and vegetables. Science suggests that nutrient-dense foods improve learning outcomes, increasing the odds that children will have brighter futures.

By steering school lunch dollars to local farmers, the program adds an important element of financial stability to farm cash flow. Schools, in fact, are typically the biggest “restaurants” in any community, and the COVID crisis has shown they feed our children even when school buildings are closed. With 10 Cents a Meal now funded for the entire state and including early childhood education centers, the program gives a budget boost to hundreds of Michigan’s small and mid-sized farmers. It also strengthens Michigan’s food supply.

For fiscal year 2025-26, the legislature and governor chose to fund school lunches a different way, and did not fund 10 Cents a Meal. The new forumula removes the emphasis on locally grown food, which is likely to reduce the nutrient quality of school food and also reduce the income of family farms in Michigan. Groundwork and our partners are working hard to return funding for 10 Cents a Meal! You can help too. See our eomprehensive avocacy toolkit.

For more information about 10 Cents a Meal, please contact Farm to Early Care and Education Specialist Melanie Wong, at melanie.wong@groundworkcenter.org.

Also be sure to check out our advocacy toolkit, which has terrific assets—letters, legislator addresses, social media posts, and more—and advice for how to best use the various pieces.

Reach out to people and organizations like your school board, parent organizations, food service directors, legislators, health and wellness advocates, farmers and farm groups. Share Our Website, Success Stories, and the fact sheets, reports, and more below, and be sure to explore the 10 Cents Michigan website.