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Arising from an agenda priority in the 2010 Michigan Good Food Charter, 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms (10 Cents a Meal) launched as a regional pilot in 2016.
It was one of the first state-funded local food purchasing incentive (LFPI) programs to be adopted across the country. The grant program reimburses 50% of the cost of fresh or minimally processed Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans used in meals and educational activities for children in sites, such as schools, childcare sites, other non-school sponsors, that participate in USDA Child Nutrition programs. After nine years of programmatic evolution and growth, 10 Cents a Meal was not included in the State of Michigan budget in October 2025. |
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“Michigan’s 10 Cents a Meal program is exactly the kind of high-impact, bipartisan solution that pays for itself.” —Anonymous |
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To understand the impact of this program, the National Farm to School Network and Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems partnered to launch a national survey in November 2025 for advocates and practitioners to share how the program had impacted farm to school-related work and policies in their states. This survey collected responses from individuals in 16 states who represented state agencies, school nutrition departments, and both national and advocacy organizations. These survey responses provided insights into how 10 Cents a Meal affected LFPI development and policy approaches across the country.
Through this new brief, How Michigan Shaped the Field: the National Impact of Michigan’s 10 Cents a Meal Program, readers can learn how this early LFPI inspired other states through policy innovation and implementation. Testimonials from other leaders are arranged by key themes: design inspiration, advocacy, evaluation, program implementation, and early childhood education. These responses provide insights into how 10 Cents a Meal affected LFPI development and policy approaches at the national level. |
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For more information, contact:
- Cassandra Bull, Policy Specialist, National Farm to School Network, cassandra@farmtoschool.org
- Colleen Matts, Assistant Director for Strategy, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, matts@msu.edu
- May Tsupros, Director, Farm to Institution Programs & Assistant Director of CRFS Programs, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, tsupros1@msu.edu
These resources were created through generous funding from W.K. Kellogg Foundation. |
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Please help us spread the word |
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Forward this message and share on social media. Please tag @MSUCRFS and National Farm to School Network on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Social Posts:
- When 10 Cents a Meal (@10centsmichigan) launched as a regional pilot in 2016–2017, only two states and Washington, DC, had similar programs. By 2026, 20 states and Washington, DC had implemented LFPIs in some form, with adoption surging after 2018. Read this latest resource from Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (@MSUCRFS) and National Farm to School Network (@farmtoschool) to see how Michigan shaped the field of local food purchase incentive programs across the county! https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/the-national-impact-of-michigans-10-cents-a-meal-program
- “Michigan’s 10 Cents a Meal program is exactly the kind of high-impact, bipartisan solution that pays for itself.” Through a national survey, at least 5 states reported successfully launching a local food purchase incentive program by leveraging the demonstrated results of 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms (@10centsmichigan). Since its launch in 2016, 10 Cents a Meal has been seen as a model for other state’s programs. Learn more about how Michigan shaped the field in this new brief from Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (@MSUCRFS) and National Farm to School Network (@farmtoschool)! https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/the-national-impact-of-michigans-10-cents-a-meal-program
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About National Farm to School Network |
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National Farm to School Network envisions a nation in which farm to school programs are an essential component of strong and just local and regional food systems, ensuring the health of all school children, farms, environment, economy and communities. Learn more at farmtoschool.org |
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