New in fiscal year (FY) 2025, the AGRI Farm to School and Early Care Local Tots Cost-Share program supports family day care homes (family child care providers) that want to buy and serve Minnesota-grown or -raised foods.
Eligible applicants
Family child care providers in Minnesota that participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) are eligible for this program.
Note: Early childhood education (ECE) centers are not eligible for this cost-share program. We encourage ECE centers to apply for either the AGRI First Bite or Full Tray Farm to School and Early Care Grant.
Eligible expenses
This cost-share program reimburses participants for purchases of Minnesota-grown and -raised food that is used for CACFP meals or snacks.
Eligible food items can only be purchased between January 1 and December 31, 2025. They can be bought from a variety of sources, including:
- Direct from a Minnesota farm or farmer, including a Community Support Agriculture (CSA) share.
- A Minnesota farmers’ market.
- Note: Some farmers at Minnesota farmers’ markets may be from bordering states; foods grown or raised in another state are not eligible.
- A retail setting.
- Note: If purchasing eligible items from a retail setting, documentation from the store that identifies the farm(s) and location(s) of the farm is required.
Not sure where to start? The Minnesota Grown Directory is a great tool to help you find local farms, farmers’ markets, or CSAs near you.
Amount available for Local Tots Cost-Share
We expect to award approximately $100,000 to reimburse family child care providers for buying Minnesota-grown and -raised foods used in CACFP.
Award amounts will depend on the number of Letters of Intent we receive, but we anticipate them to be approximately $1,000 per provider.
Applying
Letters of Intent are due by 4 p.m. Central Time (CT) on Thursday, October 24, 2024.
- Carefully read the full Farm to School and Early Care Local Tots Summary (PDF).
- Apply online.
- If you’re a new user, you need to create an account first.
- Once you’re logged in, select “Local Tots Cost-Share”:
- Complete the online Letter of Intent.
- Complete the online W-9 PowerForm hosted by DocuSign, our secure signing system.
Contact us if you need this information in an alternative format.
Whole or minimally processed foods
These foods must be grown and raised in Minnesota. Examples include but are not limited to:
-
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Herbs
- Meat, fish, and poultry
- Dairy (excluding fluid milk)
- Eggs
- Legumes
- Grains
- Maple syrup and honey
Processed foods
These foods must have at least one primary ingredient (excluding water) that is 80% grown or raised in Minnesota and be approved by Minnesota Department of Agriculture staff. Examples include:
-
- Hot dogs
- Tofu
- Bread
- Tortillas
- Pre-made smoothies
- Granola
See the “Definitions” section for more information.
Local: For this program, local means grown or raised in the state of Minnesota.
Minnesota grown or raised: Food is defined as Minnesota grown or raised if at least 80% of the product was produced and processed in Minnesota.
Processed: Foods that are made in Minnesota with at least one primary ingredient (excluding water) that is 80% grown or raised in Minnesota. To receive reimbursement for processed food items, you may need to submit a written attestation from the food business that certifies that their product meets this definition.
Unprocessed or minimally processed: Foods that are whole or minimally processed using the following allowable methods:
- Cooling
- Refrigerating
- Freezing
- Size adjustment made by peeling, slicing, dicing, cutting, chopping, shucking, and grinding
- Forming ground products into patties without any additives or fillers
- Drying or dehydration
- Washing
- Packaging (such as placing eggs in cartons), vacuum packing, and bagging (such as placing vegetables in bags or combining two or more types of vegetables or fruits in a single package)
- Adding ascorbic acid or other preservatives to prevent oxidation of produce
- Butchering livestock and poultry
- Cleaning fish
