The Henry Ford’s Farm to School Lunch Across America is an initiative to amplify the importance of farm fresh, seasonal meals for schoolchildren across the United States. By building a coalition of culinary experts, farmers, food advocates, policymakers and world-renowned chefs, The Henry Ford is bringing focus to the need for free, accessible, regeneratively grown school lunches made from locally sourced, in-season ingredients.
Our Vision
The Farm to School Lunch Across America program aims to:
- Build coalitions around the need for locally sourced, in-season, regeneratively farmed and free lunches for K-12 schoolchildren across America, leading to long-term positive change in school lunch meals.
- Educate students and their communities on the importance of eating local, seasonal and nutritious meals and on how this can positively impact the environment.
- Encourage the procurement of food directly from farmers and producers who take care of the land and their workers.
Our Impact
Throughout October 2024, The Henry Ford's Farm to School Lunch Across America took its mission and message on the road. Through a series of impact experiences at seven schools in six communities across the nation, the pilot program connected students and communities with local farmers, chefs and fresh food resources during National Farm to School Month.
Starting right at home at Henry Ford Academy in Dearborn, Michigan, then reaching from California to Illinois, Farm to School Lunch Across America provided special chef-created, locally sourced, cooked-from-scratch lunches to students at each participating school. Every meal featured in-season, locally sourced ingredients and was tailored to the diverse communities where the schools are located.
Stay tuned for more information about the 2025 Farm to School Lunch Across America program.
Making a Difference One Meal at a Time
Help us amplify and bring focus to the national conversation.
- Christy Sherding, christys@thf.orgChristy Sherding, christys@thf.org
- Spence Medford, spencem@thf.orgSpence Medford, spencem@thf.org
More to Explore
Impact & Partners
The Henry Ford works actively and passionately to support organizations working in our community.
Vision & Mission
The Henry Ford provides unique educational experiences based on authentic objects, stories and lives from America's traditions of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation.