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Thank you for your interest in the 2023-24 CA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program! Here are a few resources to learn more:

• CA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program Webpage
• 2023-24 Request for Applications
• Grant Info Session Slide Deck and Recording: include an overview of the program and of each funding track
• Questions? Please email us at cafarmtoschool@cdfa.ca.gov or join us at weekly Q&A sessions via Zoom throughout the application period. The dates and registration links for these Q&A sessions can be found under the “Grant Info Session & Weekly Q&A Sessions” dropdown on the grant program webpage.

Yes. Previous grant recipients that meet the eligibility criteria for the 2023-24 California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program are eligible to apply. Page 39 of the RFA and the Previous Grant Recipients Decision Tree include additional details.

For an overview of eligibility criteria, please review the Eligibility Decision Tree. For a full review of eligibility criteria, please read pages 16-21 of the RFA. If you are still unsure if your organization is eligible, we encourage applicants to email us at cafarmtoschool@cdfa.ca.gov with specific questions.

No. Per page 16 of the RFA, eligible entities must select one funding track and may submit one application.

However, if an entity plans to both apply as a lead applicant in one of the grant tracks and also support applications across other grant tracks as a partner or contractor, that would be allowed.

It is important to note that if an entity plans to serve as a partner in multiple applications, then they need to make sure the projects are distinct (i.e., not duplicative) and that each project would be able to stand on its own if all of the projects do not receive funding.

Per page 14 of the RFA, the CDFA will make up to $52.8 million available for the four funding tracks. The amount of funds that the CDFA will award in each funding track will depend on the number of competitive applications that the CDFA receives in each funding track.

Based on the previous 2022 grant round and new requirements from the CA State Legislature, the CDFA expects to award approximately $30 million to Track 1, $4 million to Track 2, $3.8 million to Track 3, and $15 million to Track 4. Please note that these are projections and actual award amounts in each funding track may vary based on applications received.

The 2023-24 CA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program does not require that hands-on food education be led by credentialed educators. While it is not a requirement, Track 1 and 2 projects that incorporate credentialed public school educators are eligible for additional points in the review criteria (please see scoring clarification below for details). The intention is to promote the institutionalization of hands-on food education in school districts' education programs by encouraging projects to collaborate with credentialed public school educators.

To clarify the scoring: (a) not all educators involved in a Track 1 or 2 proposed project need to have a credential, and (b) educators that do not have a credential may participate in a proposed project. In the Track 1 application, if applicants select the following optional education project goal ("Our proposed project will increase opportunities for students to engage in hands-on food education that is led by credentialed public school educators"), then they will have the opportunity to receive up to 5 points in the Hands-on Food Education Activities & Timeline section for describing how they will achieve this goal. In the Track 2 application, if applicants in the Education project category select the following optional project element ("Work with credentialed public school educators), then they will have the opportunity to receive up to 2 points in the Technical Assistance Activities & Timeline section for describing how they will achieve this project element.

Yes; if the cost of a language interpreter is necessary to achieve the grant project goals and/or to fulfill the grant project reporting requirements, then this cost would be allowable.

While the Track 4 application asks applicants, “Do you have a food safety plan?” it does not ask applicants to submit a food safety plan. This question does not specify the type of plan. Please respond to this question as best as you can based on your operations. Producer grant recipients that do not currently have a food safety plan in place must complete a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training through Cornell University as a component of their Track 4 grant project. The training is approximately $80 and the cost of this training is an allowable cost. Track 4 grant recipients may use grant funds for costs to meet necessary food safety requirements for their projects and should work with their school nutrition partners to determine what level of food safety they must meet to sell food to these partners.

The CDFA Farm to School Team is not able to determine whether or not a producer is in compliance with applicable food safety requirements. However, this grant program does expect that Track 4 grant recipients will meet a level of food safety consistent with their farm or business operations in accordance with USDA requirements and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements, as applicable.

Here are a few resources:

• Information about the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service can be found here.
• Information about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) can be found here.
• If you have questions about the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, please contact the CDFA Produce Safety Program at producesafety@cdfa.ca.gov.
• More information about food safety can be found on the CDFA Inspection Services webpage under the “Feed & Food Safety” dropdown.

Family child care homes are able to receive funding through the 2023-24 CA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program if they partner with a Farm to ECE Technical Assistance (TA) Organization that applies to Track 3.

Individual family child care homes are not eligible to apply to the grant program directly.

Farm to ECE Technical Assistance (TA) Organizations must include at least two ECE sites in California (e.g., at least two family child care homes) as project partners in their Track 3 application.

This program defines Farm to ECE Technical Assistance (TA) Organizations as any of the following organizations that provide support to ECE providers in California:

• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Sponsors of Day Care Homes in CA or CACFP Sponsors of Child Care Centers in CA
• Child Care and Development Fund Tribal Lead Agencies in CA
• Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Agencies in CA
• First 5 county commissions in CA
• Head Start grantees in CA (i.e., an agency that is awarded funding by the Office of Head Start to provide or subcontract Head Start services in their area)
• Non-profit organizations, including agricultural industry non-profit organizations
• Tribal-based non-profit organizations
• Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) in CA
• University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) and Cooperative Extension (UCCE) county offices
• Public universities in CA such as University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and community colleges
• California Native American Tribes
• County agencies in CA
• Local governments in CA
• California Agricultural Marketing Programs, listed here
• Projects with a non-profit fiscal sponsor
  • NOTE: Applicants must clearly identify the fiscal sponsor in the application. If awarded, the fiscal sponsor will be the grant recipient and will be responsible for executing the grant agreement and ensuring all project activities and costs follow grant requirements.
• The CDFA acknowledges that other types of organizations not listed above may operate as farm to ECE TA organizations. Beyond the list above, the CDFA will determine eligibility of farm to ECE TA organizations on an individual basis and encourages interested applicants to connect via email at cafarmtoschool@cdfa.ca.gov.

Yes, Family Child Care Education Networks may apply to Track 3 as a Farm to ECE Technical Assistance (TA) organization.

Here are a few suggested steps:

• Step 1: First, we suggest reviewing the list of eligible Farm to ECE Technical Assistance Organizations on page 8 of the RFA. Any of the organizations in this list that provide support to ECE providers in California may apply to Track 3.
• Step 2: Second, we suggest reaching out to one or more organizations in this list to share about the Track 3 grant opportunity and ask if they are interested in applying as a Farm to ECE Technical Assistance Organization, with your family child care home and at least one other ECE site as project partners. Here are a few resources you could share with them:
  • CA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program Webpage
  • 2023-24 Request for Applications
  • Grant Info Session Slide Deck and Recording: include an overview of the program and of each funding track
  • Questions? Please email cafarmtoschool@cdfa.ca.gov or join weekly Q&A sessions via Zoom throughout the application period. The dates and registration links for these Q&A sessions can be found under the “Grant Info Session & Weekly Q&A Sessions” dropdown on the grant program webpage.
• Step 3: Third, if an organization that you contacted in Step 2 is interested in applying, we suggest collaborating with them on the Track 3 application and working together to develop a proposed project work plan and budget that would support your family child care home to: (1) procure California grown or produced, whole or minimally processed foods for incorporation into meals/snacks and/or food boxes for young children; and (2) engage young children in hands-on food education opportunities that complement the meal program’s and/or food box program’s California food procurement efforts.

Farm to ECE Technical Assistance Organizations that apply to Track 3 must submit a letter of support from each ECE site that they list in their application as a project partner.

In the previous round of this grant program, an example of a Farm to ECE Technical Assistance Organization that is partnering with family child care homes is North Coast Opportunities Inc.

North Coast Opportunities Inc. (NCO) is a non-profit organization that was awarded $200,000 through the 2022 California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program, Track 3 to implement Kids Dig Into Gardens (KidsDIG) at six ECE sites – including three HeadStart centers and three family child care homes. NCO’s Gardens Project is collaborating with these ECE sites by developing onsite gardens, coordinating hands-on garden activities, and delivering staff and parent trainings. NCO is also facilitating procurement of California grown food for ECE meals, snacks, and samples through the NCO MendoLake Food Hub.

The CDFA will make up to $52.8 million available for the 2023-24 CA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program. The grant program will set aside up to 10% of all available grant funding (i.e., up to $5.28 million) for awards across the four funding tracks for California Native American Tribes, Tribal-based non-profit organizations, and eligible Tribal schools. Please note that the 10% set-aside is not a separate funding track.

Additionally, please note that the 10% set-aside is not a cap. The CDFA may award more than 10% of all available grant funding to California Native American Tribes, Tribal-based non-profit organizations, and eligible Tribal schools, depending on the number of competitive applications that the CDFA receives in each funding track.

Yes; Tribal schools in California (such as those administered through the Bureau of Indian Education) that are a School Food Authority (SFA) currently operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) are eligible to apply to Track 1.

It may be eligible. Please email us at cafarmtoschool@cdfa.ca.gov and briefly describe your school and the school meal programs you do operate.

The CDFA acknowledges that Tribal governments and Tribal-based non-profit organizations may operate school meal programs outside of traditional USDA school meal programs like the NSLP.

If a Tribal school is not a School Food Authority (SFA) and does not currently operate the NSLP, the CDFA will determine eligibility on an individual basis.

Yes; California Native American Tribes and Tribal-based non-profit organizations are eligible to apply to Track 2 if they have an established history: (a) supporting California School Food Authorities with implementing farm to school procurement programs; (b) supporting California educators with implementing hands-on food education programs in TK-12 settings; or (c) supporting California food producers and institutional food procurement.

Yes; California Native American Tribes and Tribal-based non-profit organizations are eligible to apply to Track 3 if they provide support to ECE providers in California (i.e., child care centers; family child care homes; and/or license-exempt family, friend, or neighbor settings).

Yes; California Native American Tribes and Tribal-based non-profit organizations are eligible to apply to Track 4 if they meet either of these definitions:

• Food Producer: This grant program defines a California food producer as a person, group of individuals, nonprofit organization, or California Native American Tribe that leases, rents, or owns land in California (whether the land is publicly owned, privately owned, or Tribal land) and cultivates crops, raises livestock, and/or uses Indigenous food production practices on this land, and/or a California seafood harvester. NOTE: this does not include school-operated gardens and school-operated farms; however, this does include third parties (such as individual contractors or nonprofit organizations) that operate a farm on school property.
• Public-serving Aggregation and Distribution Enterprise: Often called a “food hub,” a public-serving aggregation and distribution enterprise serves as a supply chain intermediary for local or regional farms or ranches, particularly those optimizing climate smart agriculture production practices or production systems, like certified organic or transitioning to certified organic, and following state labor practices. An eligible enterprise must prioritize to the greatest extent possible, but is not limited to, serving California farms or ranches that are 500 acres or less; cooperatively owned; or owned by farmers who are socially disadvantaged, beginning, limited resource, veterans, or disabled. This definition aligns with California’s Farm to Community Food Hub Program (Assembly Bill (AB) 1009, Chapter 608, Statues of 2021). Additionally, within this grant program, an eligible enterprise must be able to farm identify sourcing for 100% of products it sells to ensure state dollars support California farms and ranches.