Vermont Agency of Education Celebrates Farm to School Month

October is Farm to School Month, and across the country, farmers, educators and local food advocates are celebrating the impact of connecting youth with local food systems. The Vermont Agency of Education is taking significant strides to enhance services provided to School Food Authorities (SFAs) after securing a substantial grant of $645,207 from the United States Department of Agriculture to advance local purchasing and Farm to School initiatives within the state.  

The Agency’s Child Nutrition Programs team is actively utilizing these funds to initiate three separate contracts, each with a two-year term and the option to renew for an additional one year. These contracts will help to strengthen the Local Foods Incentive Program, boost food sales, increase producer capacity and enhance technical assistance while strengthening Farm to School connections.  

“The Local Foods Incentive Program not only ensures students are receiving high quality meals at school, but it also connects students with the state’s rich agricultural history” said Interim Secretary of Education Heather Bouchey.  

This grant program was rolled out in 2021 as part of a broader legislative effort to increase equitable access to high quality education for all students. In its first year, the grant program provided $489,838.20 to 23 SU/SDs during the 2021-2022 school year to help increase the amount of local food purchased. Eligible schools received a grant equal to $0.15 per meal to assist schools with purchasing and sourcing locally produced foods and agricultural products. Five SU/SDs then qualified for second year grant awards, received $148,536.75 in grant funding, and purchased $462,734.39 worth of local foods. The most recent local purchasing data from the 2022-2023 school year will be available this winter.  

The Vermont Agency of Education has entered into three separate contracts with the overall goal of strengthening the Local Foods Incentive Program.  

• Food Connects is a non-profit Vermont Food Hub. Their work will help to increase sales efforts to schools, promote the marketing of local producers, and explore introducing a child nutrition-specific Vermont apple cider product. The cider project will investigate the market feasibility of creating a dedicated 4oz apple cider product for schools, collaborating with local producers, and consulting with Food Service Directors. 

• The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) is contracted to provide essential technical assistance to SFAs seeking to participate in the Local Foods Incentive Program. NOFA-VT will actively engage with SFAs, assisting them with their applications, aiding in local product tracking, and maintaining a public database of Vermont Local eligible products by gathering producer attestations on behalf of SFAs. 

• The contract with Shelburne Farms represents a significant advancement in Farm to School initiatives throughout the state via the Vermont Farm to School Network. The primary purpose of this contract is to facilitate the hiring of a network coordinator who will support both the Network's Action Team and Steering Committee. Additionally, it will allocate resources for the development and distribution of specialized training materials directly to educators. The investment will play a crucial role in organizing regional Farm to School gatherings across the state, offering a valuable platform for educators from different SFAs to stay informed about regional Farm to School developments and exchange best practices. Resources will also be allocated to expand Farm to School programs in historically underserved regions of Vermont, including Addison, Rutland, and Bennington counties. 

These initiatives underscore The Agency’s commitment to promoting local agriculture, strengthening ties between schools and local producers, and providing healthier, fresher options to students. By leveraging federal funding and partnering with key organizations, Vermont is paving the way for a more sustainable and interconnected food system in its schools.