Stories of Innovation
With each connection we make in fields, kitchens, and cafeterias, we’re finding new ways for local, nutritious, and relevant food to reach more students in our communities. We’re sharing the stories behind our strategies and early successes to inform and inspire school food system leaders here and everywhere — and show what is possible when we all work together.
Learn more about our grantees and our upcoming grant opportunities.
School Meal Sparks Workshops Support Food Program Professionals in Southwest Michigan—Kalamazoo Valley Community College ValleyHub
The idea for School Meal Sparks struck Kirsten Strong, the resident dietitian of Kalamazoo Public...
A Community-Guided Approach to the Grant Application Process
The Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub...
The Growing Minds Project Launches Nation’s First Student-Led Farm Stop
Madison School Corporation (Madison, IN), in collaboration with Madison Youth Unlimited, is...
Buy Local, Cook Fresh Illinois
"Buy Local, Cook Fresh Illinois” is a comprehensive training project helping three rural Central...
How Action for Healthy Kids Helped Shape the Innovation Hub
Change starts by listening, which is why the Innovation Hub engaged school food system leaders to...
Taste Test at Proviso Schools Show that Students Love Healthy Local Burger
On Thursday, May 1, 2025, students at Proviso Township High Schools District 209 got a taste of...
Nourishing Futures: Transforming School Meals with the Ideas List
The Innovation Hub is a collaboration led by the Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI) along...
Farm Stops and Celebration Salads: Students, Farmers and Community Collaborate to Create a Strong School Food System in SE Indiana
The Madison School’s Growing Minds project, which is funded through USDA’s Healthy Meals...
Partridge Creek Farm Cooks Up a Recipe for Success with Partners
On a sunny day in September, high school seniors dug into the soil to harvest over 140 pounds of...
Lessons Learned: Our Path to Developing a Grant
In 2012, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated school meal requirements...


































