Farm to School Programs in Low-Income, High Minority K-12 Schools in New Jersey Before and After Implementation of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act

We analyzed the prevalence of farm to school (FTS) programs in K-12 schools in four low-income, high-minority cities in New Jersey before and after implementation of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA), between school years 2010–11 and 2017–18. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model FTS participation and the prevalence of FTS before versus after HHFKA initiation. Schools showed a significant positive trend in FTS participation (OR 1.18; p =.010) over the study period. Nonetheless, 20% of schools participated in FTS for 3+ years over the eight-year study period. Findings underscore the importance of federal legislation in supporting child nutrition initiatives.