Since 2018, NCDA&CS has presented NCDA&CS Best Practice Awards in the North Carolina National School Lunch and Farm to School Programs. 

These awards recognize and encourage excellence in promoting the use of NC Farm to School and USDA Foods in school breakfast and lunch programs in public schools throughout the state. 

An awards panel judges nominees and winners are announced during the annual SNA-NC Conference in June.

The following are general guidelines for each award. Please click on the links below for details and the nomination entry form for each category:

Best Practice Award for New and Innovative Use of Farm to School Program –Awarded to a School Nutrition Director for innovative promotion and use of NC Farm to School produce in school meals during the previous school year.

Best Practice Award for New and Innovative Use of USDA Foods –Awarded to a School Nutrition Director for outstanding effort and successes their school district had in promoting and using USDA Foods in their School Breakfast and Lunch Programs during the previous school year.

For more information on the awards, email Vicky Cox at vicky.cox@ncagr.gov. 

Buncombe County School Nutrition Director Lisa Payne receives the 2020 NCDA&CS Best Practices Award from Gary Gay.  Payne was recognized for her work in procuring local foods, including beef, for her district’s school nutrition program.