AFPI Applauds USDA’s Harvest to Hallways Initiative to Bring Real Food to School Cafeterias

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) celebrates USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.’s announcement of the Harvest to Hallways initiative, the next large step in the Trump Administration’s effort to implement responsible nutrition policy. Through its policy work, AFPI has advocated expanding access to high-quality protein, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and other real foods while creating greater opportunities for America's farmers and ranchers and strengthening the connection between federally supported nutrition programs and local communities. Now, as part of a multi-pronged effort to implement the New Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Harvest to Hallways initiative improves school meals by connecting more American farmers with local schools, investing in school kitchen infrastructure, and giving states and school districts new tools to serve healthier, more nutrient-dense meals to American children.

“Restoring proper nutrition in our school meals and improving access to whole, nutrient-dense foods is not only a win for our children’s health, but it will also help to rebuild our food supply and revitalize American agriculture,” said Kip Tom, AFPI vice chair for Rural Policy. “The most important crop we grow doesn’t come from our fields, it is the next generation of Americans. By working with school districts to introduce locally produced foods into school meals, we are providing new markets for our beef and other protein producers, as well as fruit, vegetable, and other specialty crop growers. Growing strong minds and bodies begins with eating real foods, and American farmers are ready to meet the need.”

The Harvest to Hallways initiative includes extensive regulatory reform and up to $70 million in investments in school cafeteria infrastructure, expanded local food procurement options for schools, and up to $25 million in additional Farm to School Grants for Fiscal Year 2026. This is what Making America Healthy Again looks like in practice: real food on lunch trays and real opportunity back on the farm. AFPI will keep fighting for policies that put real, nutrient-dense meals back at the center of American nutrition, because healthy kids and a thriving agricultural sector go hand in hand.