Through a Northeast SARE Research and Education grant, Vermont Food Education Every Day (FEED) produced two guides for farmers and school food service personnel to help build farm to school programs in Vermont. The Guide for Using Local Foods in Schools includes a step-by-step process for starting local purchasing in schools, success stories about farm to cafeteria relationships, and seasonal recipe ideas. The Guide for Connecting Farms to Schools and Communities provides information for farmers on how to market their produce in schools, on-farm education activities, and ideas on how to connect the farm to the local community.
Since 2000, Vermont FEED—a collaboration between Food Works, Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont and Shelburne Farms—has worked with schools in Vermont to raise awareness about healthy food and strong communities as part of viable farm to school programs.
This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.