MA FRESH Grant Program

The Massachusetts FRESH (Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health) Grant is a new statewide farm to school and farm to early care grant program currently accepting applications. The program is administered by the Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

The program is designed to support K-12 and early education and care centers to start up or expand their local foods purchasing and education efforts. Read below for more information on the grant program guidelines including information about registering for an information session and/or an individual coaching session.

Applications for the FY24-25 grants have now closed. Check back soon for information about future grant announcements.

The MA FRESH Grant has four funding categories broken out for early education programs running Child and Adult Care Feeding Programs (CACFP) meal programs and K-12 school districts running National School Lunch Programs (NSLP).

• New K-12 Farm to School Initiative Grants: Between $5,000 – $50,000
• New Early Education Farm to School Initiative Grants: Between $3,000 – $25,000  
• Expanding Current K-12 Farm to School Initiative Grants: Between $5,000 – $50,000
• Expanding Current Early Education Farm to School Initiative Grants: $3,000 – $50,000

Applications are not currently being accepted.  The deadline for applications was Friday, November 17, 2023.  Stay tuned for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

For a list of frequently asked questions and responses from DESE, visit https://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/grants/ma-fresh-qa.html 

Information Sessions

• MA FRESH Overview for Early Education CACFP Programs. View the recording. 
• MA FRESH Overview for K-12 NSLP Programs. View the recording.