Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced the launch of the Arkansas Plate Initiative, a new statewide effort connecting Arkansas farmers and producers with public schools to provide students with nutritious, locally sourced meals made from Arkansas-grown products.
The initiative aims to strengthen the link between Arkansas agriculture and student nutrition 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.”
Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward added, “The Arkansas Plate Initiative brings together nutrition services, farm-to-school programs, and agricultural partners with a shared goal: making Arkansas-grown food a regular part of school meals across the state.”
Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva said, “Arkansas schools benefit from nutritious meals and close relationships with local farmers. 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 program will pilot in five school districts during the 2025–2026 school year, featuring monthly “Arkansas Plate Days” highlighting locally grown ingredients such as poultry, catfish, beef, rice, edamame, and seasonal fruits and vegetables. Beginning January 2026, participating districts will serve one Arkansas Plate meal each month, collecting data and feedback to help expand the program statewide in 2026–2027.
Participating schools will also receive educational materials, promotional signage, and “Meet the Farmer” profiles to help students understand where their food comes from and the importance of supporting local agriculture.
This initiative builds on Governor Sanders’ ongoing efforts to strengthen child nutrition in Arkansas, including SB59, which provides one free breakfast daily for all public school students, expanded free lunch programs, and the continuation of the Summer EBT program to ensure year-round food access.
Together, these efforts represent a long-term strategy to make Arkansas-grown products a cornerstone of school and community food systems statewide.
Learn more about the Arkansas Plate Initiative at the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s website.
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