Objectives: We sought to determine the prevalence and distribution of state-level legislation regulating farm-to-school programmes throughout the United States of America (USA). The research is timely given national goals put forth by the Let’s Move Campaign and the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act to reduce childhood obesity prevalence and improve access to local foods in schools by 2015.

Design and methods: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Database of State Legislative and Regulatory Action to Prevent Obesity and Improve Nutrition and Physical Activity and the national Farm-to-School Network’s database of legislation were used to conduct an online search of farm-to-school legislation in all 50 US states and the District of Columbia as of March 2012.

Setting: Schools.

Results: Our search identified a total of 43 bills (33 enacted bills, two pending bills, and eight vetoed or dead bills) that aimed to facilitate farm-to-school programmes. Of the enacted bills, their foci were described according to regional location and statewide or local impact, appropriation of funds, provision of other monetary incentives, establishment of a task force, and preference for purchasing local products.

Conclusions: Given the successes of state-level laws regulating injury- and disease-related risk factors such as seatbelt and helmet use, tobacco use, and water fluoridation, we conclude that state-level legislation regulating dietary risk factors and, importantly, school nutrition environments may hold significant public health promise.