Sanders Announces Arkansas Plate Initiative to Connect Arkansas Producers with Schools

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced the launch of the Arkansas Plate Initiative, a statewide effort connecting Arkansas producers with state schools to provide students with nutritious, locally sourced meals made from Arkansas-grown products.

This initiative was designed to improve Arkansans' nutrition and strengthen the connection between Arkansas agriculture and students following the transition of federal nutrition programs to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture earlier this year.

"Arkansas students deserve access to healthy, nutritious foods at school, and the Arkansas Plate Initiative shows meaningful progress in our effort to improve child nutrition and support our farmers and producers across the state," said Governor Sanders. "Not only will this program give students access to fresh, locally sourced products, but it will also teach them about Arkansas' largest industry and what it takes to keep it."

"The Arkansas Plate Initiative brings together nutrition services, farm to school initiatives, and agricultural partners with a shared goal: making Arkansas-grown food a regular part of school meals across the state," said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. "By helping schools source more products from Arkansas farmers and producers, we're supporting our state's largest industry, improving access to healthy meals for students, and strengthening local communities."

"Arkansas schools benefit from nutritious meals and close relationships with local farmers," said Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva. "Thanks to Governor Sanders' leadership, every Arkansas student can begin the school day with a nutritious breakfast. Now, the Arkansas Plate Initiative will allow students to enjoy more Arkansas-grown food while engaging farmers in their community."

The Arkansas Plate Initiative will pilot in five school districts during the 2025-2026 school year, featuring monthly "Arkansas Plate Days" where cafeterias will serve meals highlighting Arkansas-grown ingredients, such as poultry, catfish, beef, rice, and edamame, alongside seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables.

Beginning in January 2026, participating districts will serve one Arkansas Plate meal per month. Feedback and purchasing data will be collected to evaluate program impact, with plans to expand to additional schools statewide during the 2026-2027 school year.

In addition to serving locally sourced meals, participating schools will receive educational materials, promotional signage, and "Meet the Farmer" profiles to help students discover more about where their food comes from and learn the importance of supporting Arkansas agriculture.

In addition to the Arkansas Plate Initiative, Governor Sanders announced the launch of a farm-to-school pilot program earlier this summer, created by her faith-based initiatives office to provide students with fresh, nutritious produce while at school.

Governor Sanders also signed SB59 this past legislative session, requiring all Arkansas public schools to provide one free breakfast to students per school day, regardless of their federal eligibility for free meals, and previously signed legislation providing free school lunches for eligible students who qualified for reduced-price meals. Additionally, she announced earlier this year that Arkansas will continue its Summer EBT program, ensuring Arkansas' students have access to food in the summer months.

Together, these efforts are indicative of a long-term strategy to institutionalize local food purchasing in Arkansas schools and ensure that Arkansas-grown products become an integral part of school and community food systems.

Learn more about the Arkansas Plate Initiative on the Department's website here.

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