2. WHAT WE DO CONVENINGS NETWORKNG TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESEARCH EDUCATION COMMUNICATIONS Technical Assistance/Matchmaking Communications Research & Education Networking Regional New England Collaboration Policy/Advocacy www.massfarmtoschool.org

3. 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

4. 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

5. OUR STRATEGIES CONVENINGS NETWORKING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESEARCH EDUCATION COMMUNICATIONS www.massfarmtoschool.org

6. 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

7. 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 COLLABORATION WHY? www.massfarmtoschool.org

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. WHAT’S AHEAD? WHERE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES? Photo by Mad River Food Hub www.massfarmtoschool.org

12. STAY IN TOUCH VISIT US ONLINE www.massfarmtoschool.org www.massfarmtoschool.org LISA DAMON lisa@massfarmtoschool.org www.massfarmtoschool.org