Feeding Schools with Local Harvests

Bringing the Farm to School (BTFS) with Cornucopia Project is a multi-year collaboration between Cornucopia Project, NCAT, ConVal and Jaffrey-Rindge School Districts, and Whitsons Culinary Group (which recently acquired Fresh Picks Cafe and The Abbey Group). The purpose of the project is to expand and strengthen existing farm to school relationships and increase local food procurement in local school districts.

As part of that effort, we are inviting both established farmers and aspiring farmers in the region that are interested in marketing and selling to schools to join a producers’ cohort. Cornucopia Project and NCAT will work with cohort members to facilitate peer learning and provide resources, professional development, and technical assistance to support farm-to-school purchasing agreements. Field day learning and community and school food events will advance these objectives.

Benefits of participation for farmers and producers in the producer cohorts include learning about school food sales opportunities and helping school foodservice providers to offer locally-grown nutrition options for students as well as building community support for local farms and food. Those interested are invited to participate in BTFS activities and take advantage of field day trainings, peer-to-peer learning events, and other school and community initiatives associated with BTFS with Cornucopia Project. The project is supported by Cornucopia Project’s recent award of the New England Food Vision Prize by the Henry P. Kendall Foundation.