2024 Farm Fresh Producer Survey

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) would like your insight regarding the Farm Fresh Initiative and your experience selling local foods to child nutrition programs in Texas. We kindly ask you to complete the brief survey below. It should only take 5 - 10 minutes. Your responses will help assess the current Farm to School and/or Farm to Early Childcare efforts across Texas and guide TDA's future efforts to support Texas producers who participate in these programs. Thank you in advance for your feedback!

1. Do you currently sell local products to Texas schools and/or childcare providers?*

Please list the schools and/or childcare providers you supply local foods to

2. Are you a member of TDA's Farm Fresh Network?*

If you'd like to learn more and join the Farm Fresh Network, click here

3. What percentage of your business is supplying local Texas foods to schools and childcare providers?*

4. Has your income increased due to farm to school and/or early childcare business?*

5. How can TDA better support your efforts to expand and/or strengthen your current farm to school and/or early childcare efforts?*

Please define 'other'

6. What challenges or barriers do you face when selling to schools and/or childcare providers?

7. Have you heard of the Local Food for Schools (LFS) grant?*

LFS is a grant that provides participating school districts with funds to purchase Texas products for use in their menus. The goal of the program is to increase the use of local foods while supporting small and underserved Texas producers. To qualify as LFS producers, businesses must be based in Texas, grow or produce products in Texas, and use Texas grown ingredients. To learn more, click here: LFS Information Page

8. Do you subscribe to TDA's E-Harvest newsletter?*

TDA's E-Harvest newsletter is a monthly publication meant to inform child nutrition program operators, Texas producers, and the public about Farm to School activities, funding prospects, webinars, and trainings. It is a space where TDA shares information about grants and Farm to School and Early Childcare opportunities. You can learn more by clicking here.

Do you find the information in the E-Harvest useful?

What are your suggestions for making the information more useful?

9. Please share any additional information or comments below that will help TDA support Texas farmers, ranchers, and producers in participating in Farm to School and/or Farm to Early Childcare programs.

Thank you for your participation in this survey. We appreciate your feedback and all you do to support Farm to School and Early Childcare efforts across Texas.