Kentucky Schools Receive Fresh Local Produce via DoD Fresh

By Blake Jackson

For nearly three decades, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (DoD Fresh) has worked to bring farm-fresh produce to school children nationwide.

Operating through a partnership between the USDA, the DoD Defense Logistics Agency, and state distributing agencies, the program spans 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam.

USDA does not set a limit on the amount of USDA Foods entitlement used through DoD Fresh, and allocations can be adjusted several times throughout the year.

In Kentucky, What Chefs Want (WCW) serves as the state vendor for DoD Fresh, delivering fresh, local fruits and vegetables directly to schools.

“Studies show farm produce from a local source has more nutrients than those that have to be shipped longer distances,” said Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell.

“Healthier, more nutrient dense meals make for a child that is more focused, alert, and ready to learn. Partnering with What Chefs Want has allowed Kentucky schools to focus on nutrition closer to home, benefiting local farmers and school children alike.”

WCW, a family-owned foodservice distribution company headquartered in Kentucky, helps schools access locally grown produce. Anna Haas, WCW Local Food Program Director, added, “Commissioner Shell and his team at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture have set the bar high - and we at What Chefs Want are responding with programs like none other in the United States. Together, we are ensuring more farmers, children, schools, and families across the Commonwealth can build a healthy farm to school economy through local food distribution."

Since the start of the 2025 school year, 504 Kentucky schools have participated in the program, receiving 2,535 cases of locally grown produce. By the end of October, at least 14 Kentucky farms and aggregators will have contributed, including Barbour Farms, Bosch Berries, Cornett Farm Fresh, and Kentucky Fresh Harvest.

WCW offers schools a wide selection of in-season produce, including sweet corn, watermelon, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers, with additional items such as sweet potatoes, winter squash, apples, and greenhouse strawberries available later in the fall. Schools can also access local frozen fruits, salsas, marinara, meat, dairy, and eggs.

In 2024, Kentucky schools spent nearly $7 million through DoD Fresh, and WCW continues to expand local sourcing, keeping funding with Kentucky farmers. To learn more, visit whatchefswant.com/local-food-now/ or email schools@whatchefswant.com.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-valentinrussanov