Full Report | Doubling Investment and Growing Impact: 10 Cents a Meal 2023-2024 Evaluation Results

594,000 children reached through 10 Cents a Meal during the 2023-2024 grant year

Doubling Investment and Growing Impact:  10 Cents a Meal 2023-2024 Evaluation Results Full report now available

After nine consecutive years of evolution and growth, 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms (10 Cents a Meal) is not funded at the state level for the 2025–2026 program year. Originally launched as a regional pilot in 2016-2017, 10 Cents a Meal was a state-funded local food purchasing incentive grant program that reimbursed 50% of the cost of fresh or minimally processed Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans, used in meals and educational activities for children. The full evaluation report for the 2023-2024 program year from Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) is now available to understand the breadth of impact across the state for children, food program managers, and Michigan farmers.   During the 2023-2024 program year, 10 Cents a Meal marked record numbers in its program history with 269 grantees in 66 Michigan counties, about 320 participating farmers and food suppliers, and approximately 594,000 children reached. Through a $3 million investment from the state, grantees reported spending nearly $6 million on eligible Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans with this matching grant program. According to the Local Food Impact Calculator, this spending yields over $10.2 million in estimated economic impact for the state.  As indicated by the positive impacts and their growth from previous years, 10 Cents a Meal was successfully working toward the legislated goals of the program: to improve daily nutrition and eating habits for children through school and childcare settings; and invest in Michigan’s agriculture and local food business economy.  This complete evaluation package explores the return on investment this program provided, as well as opportunities for program improvement to increase the impact in future years.  Explore and share this resource with your networks!  The full report is available as individual sections:  Overview and Evaluation of 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms  Evaluation Summary of the 2023–2024 Year of 10 Cents a Meal  Children Reached Through 10 Cents a Meal: Geographic Distribution and Demographics  Food Program Managers Participating in 10 Cents a Meal  Michigan Farmers and Vendors Participating in the 10 Cents a Meal Supply Chain  What Foods are Served through 10 Cents a Meal?  The Big Picture: Outcomes, Impacts, Needs, and Feedback of Participating in 10 Cents a Meal  Recommendations for Future Years of 10 Cents a Meal  2023–2024 10 Cents a Meal Evaluation Appendices  2023-2024 10 Cents a Meal Grantees   2023-2024 10 Cents a Meal Grantees and their Counties by Prosperity Region Acknowledgements and Authors Read the report! 10 Cents a Meal has been administered by the Michigan Department of Education, with core team members supporting the program from the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and CRFS.   For more information, contact: May Tsupros, Director of Farm to Institution Programs, Assistant Director for CRFS Programs, tsupros1@msu.edu  Colleen Matts, Assistant Director for Strategy, CRFS, matts@msu.edu  This evaluation work was conducted with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and 10 Cents administrative funds for organizational partners.  Please help us spread the word Forward this message and share on social media. Please tag @MSUCRFS and @TenCentsMichigan on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Social Posts: Despite record numbers in recent program years, @TenCentsMichigan is not funded at the state level for the 2025–2026 program year. From the recently released evaluation report from the 2023-2024 program year from @MSUCRFS, here are some key findings:   Through $3 million in state-funded grant reimbursements, nearly $6 million in spending was reported by grantees on eligible Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans. According to the Local Food Impact Calculator, this spending yields over $10.2 million in estimated economic impact for Michigan.   Food program managers in schools served a greater variety of produce for the fourth year in a row! 70% reported that the students ate more of the vegetables served, an increase of 4% from the previous program year.   59% of responding grantees (n=231) agreed that participation in 10 Cents a Meal allowed them to both make new connections with farmers and local food vendors and to improve existing relationships with them.  Dive into the full evaluation report for more details about the 2023-2024 program year: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/10-cents-a-meal-2023-2024-evaluation-results   “The 10 Cents program has allowed me to meet small business owners that really care about feeding our students. This relationship has been good for their small local businesses as well as our kids.” - 10 Cents a Meal Public School Grantee    10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms benefited Michigan farmers and food suppliers, including those with small- and medium-scale operations, through increased market opportunities. Since the program provided matching reimbursement grant funds, the $3 million state investment generated at least double the spending; grantees reported nearly $6 million in spending on eligible Michigan fruits, vegetables, and dry beans.   To explore the impact of the 2023-2024 10 Cents a Meal program for children, farmers and food businesses, and food program managers, read the recently released evaluation report from @MSUCRFS: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/10-cents-a-meal-2023-2024-evaluation-results   EXPLORE foodsystems.msu.edu EMAIL CRFS@msu.edu CALL 517-353-3535 FOLLOW @MSUCRFS   FOODSYSTEMS.MSU.EDU 

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