Pennsylvania (PA)

Explore information on farm to school participation by Pennsylvania (PA) school food authorities (SFAs) that responded to the Census and the schools and students they serve. Use the tools below to dig deeper into farm to school in Pennsylvania.

State Profile for Pennsylvania

Census Responses for Pennsylvania

Total number of responding School Food Authorities (SFAs)
522
Total number of schools in responding SFAs
2,318
Total number of students in responding SFAs
1,192,234
Farm to School Participation
75.3% (393)
of SFAs participating in SY2018-2019

Key Census Findings for Pennsylvania

Dig in on how farm to school is being cultivated across Pennsylvania.

Length of farm to school participation by SFAs in Pennsylvania

Farm to school has been picking up momentum over the last 10 years. See how long SFAs in Pennsylvania have been going local.

Percent of F2S SFAs Total F2S SFAs
Less than 3 years
 
56.2%
221
3-5 years
 
23.7%
93
6-10 years
 
11.7%
46
More than 10 years
 
8.1%
32
Don't know
 
0.3%
1
1,872 schools

998,367 students in participating SFAs

Food tray

Farm to school participation in Pennsylvania

Farm to school is growing in Pennsylvania! Local food and agricultural education activities are showing up in the cafeteria, the classroom, and the garden. Check out how many schools and students are served by farm to school SFAs.
80.9%

318 SFAs

Apple cars

Pennsylvania SFAs serving local food

Farm to school means more fresh, local food is on the menu. Across the country, SFAs engaged in farm to school report serving higher quality foods in school meals and increased participation in school meals.

Child Nutrition Programs in Pennsylvania using local food in school year 2018-2019

Nationally, a majority of farm to school SFAs have been serving local food in school meals and snacks. See how many SFAs in Pennsylvania are leveraging local foods.

Percent of F2S SFAs in Program Total F2S SFAs
Use local foods in NSLP
 
78.9%
310
Use local foods in SBP
 
78%
277
Use local foods in the FFVP
 
77.6%
66
Use local foods in CACFP
 
81.4%
57
Use local foods in CACFP At-Risk
 
76.2%
32
Use local foods in SFSP/SSO
 
79.6%
86
63.1%

248 SFAs

Teacher with class

Pennsylvania SFAs providing food, nutrition, or agricultural education

Farm to school activities include experiential learning in the classroom, in the garden, and on the farm. Pennsylvania SFAs offer opportunities such as taste testing, school gardening, and farm field trips.
27.7%

109 SFAs

Vegetable garden

Pennsylvania SFAs that have edible gardens

School gardens are becoming a popular outdoor extension of the classroom. Across the curriculum, school gardens can bring learning to life and produce food to serve in school meals.

Food and nutrition education in Pennsylvania

Farm to school activities can include educational experiences in the classroom, the garden, and on the farm. See how SFAs in Pennsylvania are bringing farm to school alive with hands-on learning.

Percent of F2S SFAs Total F2S SFAs
Hold taste tests & cooking demos
 
36.4%
143
Use USDA Team Nutrition materials
 
10.9%
43
Use educational edible school garden
 
18.6%
73
Hold student field trips to farms
 
34.4%
135
Have Farmers Visit
 
11.2%
44
Do farm to school activities in pre-K
 
8.4%
33

Local foods served daily or weekly in meals or snacks

As farm to school has grown, so have the local options students enjoy at meal time. Many schools are serving fresh and local fruits, vegetables, dairy, proteins, or grains daily, a few times a week, or weekly. Schools meet federal nutritional standards and students get healthy, flavorful, options.

Percent of F2S SFAs Total F2S SFAs
Serve local fruit at least weekly
 
53.4% 210
Serve local vegetables at least weekly
 
47.1% 185
Serve local milk at least weekly
 
73% 287
Serve other local dairy at least weekly
 
21.1% 83
Serve local protein at least weekly
 
9.7% 38
Serve local grains at least weekly
 
19.6% 77

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