National CACFP Association sets Farm to CACFP Week for Oct. 18-24, 2026

The National CACFP Association will mark Farm to CACFP Week from Oct. 18-24, 2026, to help child and adult care providers connect meals with local agriculture, producers and community learning. The campaign includes resources, activities and menu ideas aimed at making local-food participation easier for care programs.

Why it matters: - Farm to CACFP Week gives child and adult care providers a structured way to bring local foods, agricultural education and community connections into CACFP meals and activities. - The campaign can help programs introduce seasonal produce, support healthy eating habits and create a market for local farmers and producers.

What happened: - The National CACFP Association will celebrate Farm to CACFP Week from Oct. 18-24, 2026. - The annual education campaign encourages child and adult care providers to connect the foods they serve with local agriculture, producers and their communities. - Alexia Thex, NCA president, said Farm to CACFP is about creating meaningful connections between food, growers and the children and adults in care.

The details: - NCA says Farm to CACFP Week can include serving seasonal produce, purchasing from local farmers, growing a garden, exploring new foods and learning where food comes from. - Providers are encouraged to participate in Farm to CACFP activities, share their #CACFPCreditable meals featuring local ingredients and use campaign resources in their programs. - NCA has developed resources that include activities, recipes, sample menus and other ideas for incorporating local foods and agricultural education into care settings. - The resources are designed for programs that want to plant a garden, serve seasonal produce, conduct a taste test, connect with a local farmer or help children learn where their food comes from. - More information is available through Farm to CACFP Week resources.

Between the lines: - The campaign is built to be accessible at different levels, so programs can participate whether they have space for gardening, access to local farms or only a small menu change. - The emphasis on local purchasing suggests the initiative is aimed at both nutrition education and practical support for regional agriculture.

What's next: - Care programs can use the NCA resources ahead of Oct. 18-24, 2026 to plan activities and meals. - NCA expects providers to share local-ingredient meals and take part in Farm to CACFP activities during the week.

The bottom line: - Farm to CACFP Week is an annual push to make local food part of everyday child and adult care programming while strengthening ties between care settings and nearby producers.