Meal Pattern Minute: Juice from Farm Stands

There’s something special about picking up a jug of homemade apple cider from your local farm stand, especially when it’s made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. But when it comes to serving apple cider in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), not all farm-fresh options are created equal. So, can you purchase homemade juice like apple cider and count it toward the CACFP meal pattern? 

Listen to this Meal Pattern Minute as Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, discusses what CACFP operators need to know before serving juice from a local farm stand and why one important detail could determine whether it’s creditable or not. 

The answer is that it depends. If the juice is pasteurized and is made from 100% juice, then yes you can purchase this juice from your local farm stand and credit towards the CACFP meal pattern. Unpasteurized juice is not creditable in the CACFP because they may contain harmful bacteria which may cause serious foodborne illness. 

For more information about purchasing local foods and how to join the Farm to CACFP Campaign, see resources below.  

• Crediting Handbook for the CACFP
  • Can we purchase homemade juices such as apple cider from local farm stands? Yes. However, due to the safety hazards of unpasteurized ciders and juices, only pasteurized juice and juice products may be served. 
• USDA Procuring Local Foods
  • The resources on this page will help Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operators buy local. This information applies to child care providers and summer feeding sites. 
•  Webinar: Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs ($) 
  • From beef and bison in Montana to apples in Michigan and radishes in Rhode Island, local foods are on the menu for children across the country. Local procurement not only supports increased economic opportunities for local farmers, but also helps child care institutions incorporate wholesome local foods into program meals and encourages children to make healthy food choices. Learn how local foods can meet meal pattern requirements, understand what is required when purchasing local foods, and get the resources you need for procuring them.  Presented by Melissa Daigle-Katz, MPH, USDA Food and Nutrition Service and Lissa Ong, MPH, RDN, USDA Food and Nutrition Service. 
• Farm to CACFP Week: October 12-18, 2025
  • Farm to CACFP Week is a national education campaign hosted annually during the third week of October by the National CACFP Association. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the benefits of connecting child and adult care sponsors and operators with local foods. Through local food procurement, gardening activities and food-based education, Farm to CACFP leverages CACFP funding to help incorporate local foods into the it’s correct nutritious CACFP meal pattern thus strengthening community food systems and supporting positive health outcomes for those in care. Visit the webpage to learn more, search for farmers markets near you and download plenty of resources to participate!

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