Virginia Food for Virginia Kids
Virginia Food for Virginia Kids
The Virginia Department of Education, Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs (VDOE-SCNP) is committed to driving advancement within child nutrition programs. To do this, the VDOE-SCNP employs multiple strategies to meet program operators where they are and help them reach their goals, including program support, tailored resources, and special initiatives.
In 2021, the VDOE-SCNP launched its Virginia Food for Virginia Kids (VFVK) initiative, embedding support for scratch cooking, local procurement, and student-driven meals within its trainings, resources, and technical assistance. This initiative also included a Cohort model, where an annual cohort of eight school divisions worked alongside the VDOE-SCNP and the Chef Ann Foundation towards operational change.
Participating VFVK Cohort Divisions
- 2022 Pilot VFVK Cohort: Danville City, Fauquier County, Franklin City, Greensville County, Henrico County, Norfolk City, Stafford County, Washington County
- 2023 VFVK Cohort: Amherst County, Chesterfield County, Fairfax County, Harrisonburg City, King George County, Prince Edward County, Radford City, Suffolk City
- 2024 VFVK Cohort: Dinwiddie County, Goochland County, Loudoun County, Nelson County, Northumberland County, Page County, Rockingham County, Virginia Beach City
- 2025 VFVK Cohort: Bristol City, Cumberland County, Dickenson County, Gloucester County, Greene County Hopewell County, Isle of Wight County, Rappahannock County
“Participating in the VFVK Cohort has helped our division make a real positive shift by focusing on fresh produce and proteins from local farmers while moving towards more scratch cooking. Developing our own recipes and giving ownership to those preparing the meals was a great way to ensure that the food is nutritious, appealing, and tailored to the needs of the students.” -2023 VFVK Cohort Participant
VFVK & Beyond
As the 2025 VFVK Cohort activities come to a close, the VDOE-SCNP is evaluating and reimagining this work. Our team of subject matter experts remain committed to providing individualized technical assistance, training opportunities, and collaborations that support ongoing growth, enhance program implementation, and foster innovation within child nutrition programs across the Commonwealth. Additional information about the next phase of this important work will be announced as it becomes available.