2025 (NSLP and CACFP) Farm Fresh Challenge Pledge

Important Changes to Farm Fresh Challenge:

The Texas Department of Agriculture's (TDA) Farm Fresh Challenge runs from October 1 through October 31 and includes three tiers: Beginner - Prime Participant, Intermediate - Best of the Bunch, Expert - Cream of the Crop.

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If you are a Contracting Entity (CE) that is a school district and operates both NSLP and CACFP, you may select to pledge for one program or for both.

If you are a Contracting Entity (CE) that only operates CACFP, only select "CACFP" in the section to follow.

Who Can Fill Out this Form?

Please Be Advised:

Representatives from Food Service Management Companies CANNOT complete this form on behalf of a Contracting Entity (CE) with the Texas Department of Agriculture. The contact person must be an employee of the school district.

Farm Fresh Challenge Parameters

Visit Squaremeals.org/FarmFreshChallenge for additional details on how to participate.

Please select which federal meal program(s) your organization operates:* This field is required.If you are a Contracting Entity (CE) that is a school district that operates both NSLP and CACFP, and would like to complete the Challenge for both programs, please select "Both." You may select "NSLP" or "CACFP" if you would like to complete the Challenge for only one program. If you are a Contracting Entity (CE) that only operates CACFP, only select "CACFP."

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

Both NSLP & CACFP

Did you participate in the Farm Fresh Challenge last year?* This field is required.

Which tier did you achieve?

Please complete the following:* This field is required.

CE ID

ESC Region

Organization/District Name

Site Count

Student Enrollment

Self-Op or FSMC/Meal Vendor Operated

Does your district participate in the HART program

Which FSMC provides your meals* This field is required.e.g. Aramark, Chartwells, Sodexo, etc.

Child Nutrition Director (or equivalent position) from your organization:* This field is required.

First & Last Name

Job Title

Please enter your email

Phone number. No parenthesis, spaces, or dashes. Ex. 5124637723

Phone extension if applicable

Please choose the preferred person for TDA to contact regarding your organization's participation in the Farm Fresh Challenge.* This field is required.

Child Nutrition Director/equivalent authority

Other

In your response to 'Other' on the previous question, please complete the following information.

First & Last Name

Job Title

Email address

Phone number. No parenthesis, spaces, or dashes. Ex. 5124637723

Phone extension if applicable

Farm Fresh Challenge (FFC) materials can be ordered from TDA to aid your FFC participation. To whom should we address any ordered materials? (In care of...)* This field is required.The FFC materials are optional

Child Nutrition Director/ equivalent authority

Other

In your response to "Other" on the previous question, please complete the following information.

First & Last Name

Job Title

Email address

Phone number. No parenthesis, spaces, or dashes . Ex. 5124637723

Phone extension if applicable

What is your preferred mailing address for all Farm Fresh Challenge materials (including recognition letters)?Physical Address Only (No P.O. Boxes)

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

City / Town

Zip Code

Choose one of the following materials to help celebrate at the local level* This field is required.select one item

"Locally Grown" static cling for sneeze guards and windows (5 per site)

"We Serve Local" button for staff (5 per site)

"I Tried Local" stickers for children (300 per site)

No materials needed

Promotional Materials It is too late for promotional materials to be sent to you. Click 'YES' to confirm acknowledgement.

YESNO

Farm Fresh Challenge Support Materials

TDA has created many resources that can help your district celebrate the Farm Fresh Challenge at each of your sites. Find inspiration from your fellow Texas CEs in the Success Stories from previous years and access high resolution, print ready creative tools, at Squaremeals.org/FarmFreshChallenge.

Download and print the following items:

Farm Fresh Challenge Success Guide
Flashcards
Activity booklet
Stickers
Buttons
Static clings
Activity sheets

Which tier are you planning to achieve?

Do you anticipate using new ingredients for your menus during the Farm Fresh Challenge?* This field is required.Select one

Yes, all of the ingredients will be new.

Yes, some of the ingredients will be new.

No, I regularly use these menu items.

How do you plan to purchase local products for the Farm Fresh Challenge?Select all that apply

Through my contracted distributor

Direct from a producer or farmer

Other

In your response to 'Other' on the previous question, please provide additional details about how you plan to purchase local products.

Do you anticipate continuing to include the ingredients used during the Farm Fresh Challenge on menus for the remainder of the year or in future years?* This field is required.Select one

Yes

Unsure

Do you anticipate higher labor costs as a result of your participation in the Farm Fresh Challenge?* This field is required.Select one

Yes

Unsure

Do you anticipate higher food costs as a result of your participation in the Farm Fresh Challenge?* This field is required.Select one

Yes

Unsure

Do you plan to use any of the following TDA resources to help you succeed in the Farm Fresh Challenge?* This field is required.Select all that apply

Farm Fresh Challenge Success Guide

Farm Fresh Challenge tracker

Menu planning tools - Meal Appeal, Farm Fresh Cooking for the Seasons, etc.

Educational activities - flashcards, activity book, Harvest of the Month, etc.

Local procurement resources

Texas seasonality wheel

Stickers for students

Buttons for staff

Texas Farm Fresh Network

Other

In your response to 'Other' on the previous question, please provide additional details about which TDA resources / other resources you plan to use.

How challenging do you think it will be to add local ingredients to your menus during the Farm Fresh Challenge?* This field is required.Select one

Very easy

Somewhat easy

Somewhat challenging

Very challenging

Do you anticipate any other obstacles to success during the Farm Fresh Challenge?* This field is required.

Yes

Please share any obstacles to success you anticipate.

What type of support for the Farm Fresh Challenge would you like to receive from TDA?

Will any sites or campuses be hosting a special event(s) that would be a good fit for a TDA representative to attend?* This field is required.Select one

Yes

Please share any details about the event including: date, time, location, a brief description of the planned event and a good contact name and phone number for coordination.

I confirm that the information provided is a true and accurate description of anticipated participation in TDA's Farm Fresh Challenge.* This field is required.

Yes

Important!

Completing the Farm Fresh Challenge:

All participants that want their efforts recognized must complete a Farm Fresh Challenge Attestation Form available on Squaremeals.org/FarmFreshChallenge after completing the challenge.

This form collects information about local products served, dollars spent on Texas products, details about educational activities for children, and community engagement.

The attestation form is available for completion at any time after the challenge on Squaremeals.org/FarmFreshChallenge. The deadline to submit the attestation form is Friday, November 28, 2025.