The Texas Department of Agriculture is encouraging schools and day cares to join the 2026 Farm Fresh Challenge, which begins Oct. 1, according to a Sept. 28 news release from the agency.
The challenge asks participating organizations to promote Texas agriculture through October by serving local foods, offering agricultural learning opportunities and highlighting their efforts on social media, the department said. Organizations that operate the National School Lunch Program or the Child and Adult Care Food Program can pledge to take part before Oct. 1 at SquareMeals.org/FarmFreshChallenge, according to the release.
“I’m asking our partners to help me make this year’s Farm Fresh Challenge the biggest and best ever,” Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said in the release. “They can engage everyone they serve in trying local products like whole milk from a Texas dairy or fresh apples from the panhandle. Their efforts recognize the hard work of farmers and ranchers and resonate statewide. From Gate to Plate, the Farm Fresh Challenge helps ensure Texas remains a leader in connecting federal nutrition programs and local agriculture.”
The department pointed to last year’s results as evidence of growth. According to the release, the number of schools and day cares completing the challenge rose 12 percent in 2025, and spending on Texas products during the challenge increased from $19 million in 2024 to $23.5 million in 2025. Participants can earn one of three recognition tiers: Cream of the Crop, Best of the Bunch or Prime Participant. Almost 60 percent earned the top tier in 2025, the department said.
This year, Miller and the department have offered training on how program operators can buy directly from farmers and ranchers, the release said. The department, working with Texas A&M AgriLife, also offers one-day workshops for producers on selling to and preparing for the school and day care markets.
The agency also provides tools to help nutrition professionals earn recognition at any level, according to the release. Those include recipes built around ingredients from Texas producers, a Success Guide with a step-by-step plan, a tracking tool for recording achievements, a social media toolkit, and learning resources such as flashcards, word games and coloring pages that teach students about agriculture. The department’s Farm Fresh Network, which lists 198 agricultural producers prepared to supply Texas products to federal nutrition programs, helps participants find local vendors for vegetables, fruits, meats, dairy and more.
The department described the challenge as a centerpiece of Miller’s Farm Fresh Initiative, a plan he developed more than 10 years ago to create more nutrition-program opportunities for Texas agricultural producers. Further information is available at SquareMeals.org/FarmFreshChallenge.