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WHAT WE DO
CONVENINGS NETWORKNG
TECHNICALASSISTANCE
RESEARCH
EDUCATION COMMUNICATIONS
• Technical
Assistance/Matchmaking
• Communications
• Research & Education
• Networking
• Regional New England
Collaboration
• Policy/Advocacy
www.massfarmtoschool.org
WHY WE DO IT
• A vibrant, local and regional food system
• Good food and farm jobs and a strong local economy
• Keep land in agriculture
• Access to healthy, locally grown food for all
• Encourage healthy food choices
• Increase food and agriculture literacy
Bringing growers and eaters closer together encourages community
health on many levels
www.massfarmtoschool.org
• They are market makers: institutions purchase over $1 billion of food per year in New England alone
• They provide a diversified market for regional producers, especially mid-sized farms
• They serve meals to over 3 million people per year, including many who are at-risk nutritionally and/or economically
WHY INSTITUTIONS?
www.massfarmtoschool.org
OUR STRATEGIES
CONVENINGS NETWORKING
TECHNICALASSISTANCE
RESEARCH
EDUCATION COMMUNICATIONS
www.massfarmtoschool.org
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF COLLABORATION?
• HOW CAN WE INCREASE SUPPLY?
• HOW CAN WE PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY IN THE FOOD CHAIN?
• HOW CAN WE SHARE BEST PRACTICES?
• HOW CAN WE MAXIMIZE IMPACT?
www.massfarmtoschool.org
• There’s an imbalance in the New England food shed, with more producers in the north and more consumers in the south
• Food is already being moved around the region by food distributors and food service management companies
• New England is geographically small, making regional collaboration convenient and practical
REGIONAL COLLABORATIONWHY?
www.massfarmtoschool.org
• Farm to Institution New England (FINE)• A six-state network of non-profit, public and private
entities with a mission to strengthen our food system by increasing the amount of New England-grown and processed food served in our region’s schools, hospitals, colleges and other institutions.
• Targeted projects contributing to research and knowledge to benefit all partners
• Farm to School Northeast Regional Steering Committee • Part of the National Farm to School Network• Professional community focused on K12 sector with a
national perspective
REGIONAL COLLABORATION
www.massfarmtoschool.org
• MA Farm to School grew out of MDAR project in 2004
• Long term programmatic and funding partnership
• Annual contract forms the backbone of collaboration
• Joint farmer outreach & training opportunities
• Connections with other State agencies
PUBLIC/PRIVATE COLLABORATIONS
www.massfarmtoschool.org
• MA Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Collaboration
• MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education• John Stalker Institute at Framingham State University• MA School Nutrition Association (SNA)
• USDA Farm to School Program (FNS)• Farm to School Annual Census• Training and technical assistance
PUBLIC/PRIVATE COLLABORATIONS
www.massfarmtoschool.org
WHAT’S AHEAD?WHERE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES?
Photo by Mad River Food Hub
www.massfarmtoschool.org
STAY IN TOUCH
VISIT US ONLINE www.massfarmtoschool.org
LISA DAMONlisa@massfarmtoschool.
org
www.massfarmtoschool.org