Farmer-Lunch Lady Speed Dating' aims to get locally grown food into schools

The event connects local farmers with school representatives to bring more community-sourced food to cafeterias.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:23pm

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A state program called Farm to Kids is hosting 'Farmer-Lunch Lady Speed Dating' events across Minnesota to connect local farmers with school representatives and get more locally grown food into school cafeterias. The events allow farmers to introduce themselves and their products to school food buyers, with the goal of establishing new supply relationships. The program also provides education on food safety and the benefits of serving locally sourced meals in schools.

Why it matters

With growing consumer interest in locally sourced food, the Farm to Kids program aims to strengthen rural economies, build community connections, and provide students with fresher, more traceable ingredients in their school meals. The events target areas of the state where access to local food in schools has been challenging.

The details

The 'Farmer-Lunch Lady Speed Dating' events feature a structured networking format where farmers can pitch their products directly to school food service representatives. If there's mutual interest, they exchange contact information to potentially establish a supply relationship. The events are organized by the state's Farm to Kids program, which is partnering with Renewing the Countryside, the Minnesota Departments of Education and Agriculture, and the University of Minnesota. The program picks locations across the state where getting local food into schools has historically been difficult.

  • The most recent 'Farmer-Lunch Lady Speed Dating' event was held on March 19, 2026 at Bagley High School.
  • The Farm to Kids Roadshow program has held similar events in other Minnesota towns like Cloquet and Mankato.

The players

Farm to Kids

A state program that encourages the purchase of local food by schools and provides education on food safety.

Renewing the Countryside

A nonprofit focused on improving rural areas, partnering with Farm to Kids on the Roadshow events.

Bjørn Solberg

Represents potato farmers in northwest Minnesota through his business Hugh's Gardens, which works with local farmers to process and market organic potatoes.

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What they’re saying

“I think people really enjoy getting to understand their food (and) supporting local economies. There's a school right down by me in southeast Minnesota, and that school buys from a local cattle farm. The kids of that farm go to that school, and when their beef is on the menu, everybody is so stoked because they feel pretty proud about it.”

— Brett Olson, Renewing the Countryside

“It's been my passion to increase (locally grown food) in other schools. It was just a great way to connect and network with them and get a lot of the information ironed out so that sales could happen.”

— Bjørn Solberg, Hugh's Gardens

What’s next

The Farm to Kids Roadshow program plans to continue hosting 'Farmer-Lunch Lady Speed Dating' events in other communities across Minnesota to further its mission of getting more locally sourced food into school cafeterias.

The takeaway

The 'Farmer-Lunch Lady Speed Dating' events demonstrate how targeted programs can help bridge the gap between local food producers and institutional buyers like schools, strengthening rural economies and providing students with fresher, more traceable ingredients in their meals.