Feed & Seed Co. Is growing more than food

When local food disappears from school cafeterias, it is not just farmers who feel the impact. Students lose access to fresh, nutritious meals, schools have fewer local options, and communities miss the chance to keep food dollars close to home. When a federal program that helped schools buy local food ended in 2025, many South Carolina farmers and school districts faced exactly that challenge.

Instead of accepting that loss, the nonprofit, Feed & Seed Co. saw an opportunity to build something that could last.

As one of only nine organizations in the country to receive a Supporting Community Agriculture and Local Education Systems (SCALES) grant, Feed & Seed Co. partnered with Greenville County Schools Food and Nutrition Services to strengthen the connection between local farms and school cafeterias.

The impact has already been significant.

In the first six months of the program, more than 71,000 (79,562) pounds of South Carolina grown produce have been turned into foods that schools can easily serve, including flash frozen braised collard greens, sweet potato mash, and nut free pesto. Those foods have already reached more than 75,000 students, making fresh, local ingredients part of everyday school meals instead of an occasional option.

For a local farmer, that means having a reliable market to sell crops. For a student, it means sitting down to a healthier meal made with food grown close to home.

Over the next three years, the program is expected to expand to around 300 schools and reach more than 240,000 students, creating even more opportunities for local farmers while helping schools serve nutritious meals year-round.

This work is about more than what is on a lunch tray.

By processing seasonal produce into products schools can use throughout the year, Feed & Seed Co. is helping fill the gap between harvest season and the school calendar. The nonprofit organization is creating a stronger local food system that supports farmers, protects farmland, and makes healthy food more accessible for students across South Carolina.

One of the biggest lessons from the project has been the power of partnership. By bringing together farmers, schools, and community organizations, Feed & Seed Co. has shown that lasting solutions happen when people work together to meet a shared need.

South Carolina did not have a sustainable system connecting local farms with schools at this scale before the SCALES grant. Today, Feed & Seed Co. is helping build that system while creating healthier futures for students and stronger opportunities for farmers.

This is what nonprofits get done every day. They see a need, bring people together, and create practical solutions that strengthen communities for generations to come.