In 2018, Community F.A.R.E (Food.Advocacy.Resources.Education) a Frederick 501(c)(3) organization, applied for and was awarded its first USDA Farm to School grant in partnership with Frederick County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services Department. With the vision and leadership of Community F.A.R.E, Farm to School Frederick has been a very successful initiative working to provide students with increased access to locally grown, highly nutritious fruits and vegetables. By serving as the intermediary between growers and schools, F2S fostered new partnerships between Frederick farmers and the school and scaled up local fruit and vegetable purchases to $81,109 in the 2021 - 2022 school year. This $81,109 directly supported Frederick County fruit and vegetable growers and the health and well-being of Frederick students!

It is with great excitement that we announce that Farm to School Frederick continues to make significant strides and is evolving from a project of Community F.A.R.E to become a stand-alone organization and soon to be a 501(c)(3) non-profit. We thank Community F.A.R.E for the opportunity to grow this initiative as we work to have an even greater reach and impact serving the residents of Frederick County.

Farm to School Frederick was the recipient of The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant program through USDA Food and Nutrition Service in fiscal year 2020. Resources from this grant made possible the establishment of Farm to School Frederick, and nutrition & agricultural education programs in collaboration with Frederick County Public Schools.

In 2024, Farm to School Frederick was awarded a Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) Grant through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service to implement marketing and promotion for five Frederick County Farmers Markets. This project will conduct a comprehensive needs assessment, develop a dynamic marketing strategy and create diverse promotional materials to attract a wide-ranging customer base. Farmers Market managers and a marketing firm will provide guidance and produce professional content. The project will actively engage communities to gather insights for improving market accessibility and increasing farmer sales. Data collection and analysis will ultimately enhance the visibility and prosperity of Farmers Markets while fostering a more inclusive local food system.