Lessons from the COVID-19 Experience: Innovations and Strategies for Farm to Early Care and Education Implementation in States and Communities

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many food and early childhood organizations involved in the farm to early care and education (farm to ECE) movement shifted their 2020 priorities to address critical needs of families with young children. The past year has marked a time of collective struggle and resilience as communities grappled with the impacts of a global pandemic, economic crisis, and a renewed national focus on advancing racial equity. At the same time, many organizations took advantage of the flexibilities offered to them by changes in federal policy, filled gaps where the system was not working, and adapted their farm to ECE models to be successful in the new context. Out of the crisis emerged innovations for farm to ECE delivery that have propelled the movement forward.