Center for Regional Food Systems

10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids & Farms (10 Cents a Meal) is a state-funded program that matches what schools and early care and education (ECE) sites spend on Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans with grants of up to 10 cents per meal.

Program Goals

• Improve daily nutrition and eating habits for children in school and early care and eduction settings.
• Invest in Michigan agriculture and related local food business economy.

Program Year Overview

• In the 2022-2023 program, 240 school districts, early care and education sites (ECEs), and other childcare sponsors were awarded over $5.6 million in funding.
• Throughout the year, 218 different grantees shared information through electronic evaluation surveys (2) and 182 shared purchasing information through invoices.
• Grantees were comprised of 214 public schools and districts, seven non-public schools, two residential child care institutions (RCCIs), 15 ECE sites, and two other non school recipient sponsors (ONSRs) across the state.
• Additionally, 59 childcare centers and family day care home providers participated in 10 Cents a Meal through a pilot program with their Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsoring organization.
• Collectively, grantees served nearly 587,000 children in 65 of Michigan’s 83 counties.
• Grantees reported differing levels of experience purchasing local foods for food programs: 26% indicated that they had 10 years or more of experience (31 out of 119 grantees) while 19% indicated that they were newer to purchasing local foods (23 grantees), with one year or less of experience before participating in 10 Cents a Meal.