COMMITTEES Farm to School
Connecting THE DOTS:
Farm to School Feature
Does participation in the Institute guarantee that we will reach the 30%? Due to many barriers and challenges presented to individual districts regarding geographic location, COVID-19 and school closures, lack of administrative capacity, as well as many other supply chain challenges schools across the state are currently facing with local procurement, we cannot guarantee that all school teams will reach 30% local procurement. However, we provide schools with the resources, opportunities, and technical trainings needed to increase local procurement. These opportunities include trainings on menu planning, connections with farmers across the state poised to sell to institutions, and connections with region- specific procurement experts and coordinators. If your team’s goal is to eventually reach 30% local procurement, Institute coaches and staff will guide you to create an Action Plan to reach this goal and provide you with tools to support your team. Who are you and how do I learn more? The New York Farm to School Institute is hosted by Farm to Institution New York State , an initiative through American Farmland Trust . For more information about the Institute, please visit www.finys.org/ institute or email us at finys@farmland.org with questions on our programming or application process.
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CREATING INTEGRATED AND SUSTAINABLE CHANGE THROUGH THE NEW YORK FARM TO SCHOOL INSTITUTE BY THE NEW YORK FARM TO SCHOOL INSTITUTE
Farm to School NYC
What is the New York Farm to School Institute? Farm to School programs across the United States enrich the connection communities have with local foods by changing food purchasing and education practices through schools and early childhood education centers. Students gain access to healthy foods as well as educational opportunities, school gardens, cooking lessons, farm field trips, and a greater connection to their local food systems and their environment. Thanks to investments in Governor AndrewCuomo’s No Student Goes Hungry Initiative in 2018, Farm to School has the potential to grow exponentially across New York State. To realize the full potential of these new programs, schools need more assistance creating successful Farm
Why does New York need an Institute for Farm to School? The New York Farm to School Institute is modeled after the longstanding Northeast Farm to School Institute hosted at Shelburne Farms by Vermont FEED. The FTS Institute model was developed and refined by Vermont FEED using evidence-based best practices in professional learning. The New York Farm to School Institute is inspired by this time-tested model but adapted for New York’s unique school landscape. New York is home to the largest school district in the country, as well as large urban and suburban districts, and smaller rural schools. Hosting a state-specific Institute addresses this disparity by providing tailored support to schools of all sizes in creating farm to school programs.
What Alumni are Saying
“[ The
institute ]
helped
keep
us
“
As
the
most
diverse
city
in
the
country ,
we
East End Farm to School Project
accountable
and
inspired
during
a
strive
to
approach
all
work
with
equity
and
very
difficult
year
.
We
made
some
fidelity .
The
work
with
the
Institute
inspired
us
to
continue
our
work
in
a
way
that
was
as
significant
improvements
to
our
inclusionary
as
possible . [ The
institute ]
Harvest
of
the
Month
program
that
allowed
us
to
have
a
framework
for
were
inspired
by
other
teams
in
the
meaningful
conversations
with
all
levels
of
the
Institute ,
including
adding
a
organization .
It
also
kept
this
as
a
priority
in
Farmer
of
the
Month
feature
and
the
organization
amidst
changing
incorporating
a
link
for
an
online
administrations
and
s
ervice .
WE
are
activity .
We
also
recorded
virtual
committed
to
making
more
meaningful
farm
tours
and
posted
them
to
our
connections
to
local
food
so
students
can
new
YouTube
channel .
The
experience
the
benefits
both
while
learning
Institute
also
provided
us
with
a
and
during
meal
service .”
Windsor CSD
shared
vocabulary
and
starting
point
for
incorporating
DEIJ
work
into
our
Farm
to
School
activities .”
“
Our
participation
in
this
program
has
been
a
bright
spot
for
our
school
community
in
Forestville CSD
“
The
coaching
calls
were
very
light
of
the
difficult
times
we
have
helpful
in
keeping
focused
in
the
experienced .
The
connections
we
have
work
we
wanted
to
accomplish
made
to
the
F 2 S
program
staff
and
other
this
year
. Collective
meetings
participating
scho
ols
have
been
very
were
a
great
way
to
share
ideas
helpful .
We
have
learned
a
great
deal
about
and
troubleshoot
issues
that
we
having
a
large
farm
and
have
received
had
to
deal
with
.
These
valuable
coaching
and
support
from
so
meetings /
calls
also
helped
us
hold
many
smart ,
talented
and
ambitious
individuals .
Please
continue
to
have
schools
each
other
accountable .
Using
the
share
their
work
with
one
another .
This
was
rubric
was
also
a
great
way
for
especially
helpful
in
encouraging
us
to
our
team
to
reflect
on
the
true
create /
replicate
innovative
programming
growth
that
we
have
for
our
Windsor
students .
experienced
.”
Furthermore, with the 30% reimbursement program, the need for training is timely and necessary to help schools find ways to source, procure, and serve more NY grown foods for students across the state.
to School programs and connecting with farmers. The New York Farm to School Institute offers a comprehensive learning opportunity for food service staff, educators, administrators, and community partners in New York schools to develop and refine their farm to school programs, and to help bring more New York grown food into the cafeteria and the
“Farm to school (FTS) is a program, policy, or initiative that intentionallyconnectsstudents, school communities, and local farms with the goals of improving student nutrition and academic outcomes, strengthening local food systems, and protecting the environment…Through FTS, students develop positive relationships with food and an understanding of how their food choices impact their bodies, the environment, and their communities – lessons and habits that will last a lifetime.” – VT FEED Farm to School Guide
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classroom. Who Will Benefit from the New York Farm to School Institute? Farm to School programs will offer a direct opportunity to improve the health of students while strengthening the local agricultural economy by bringing farm fresh local foods into school cafeterias statewide. Currently, a knowledge gap exists in how to get food from the farm to the student plate. The Institute fills this need by offering school teams enhanced technical knowledge and support on how to procure and prepare local foods, tools for community engagement, and classroom and culinary education. The New York Farm to School Institute will also guide participants in using Farm to School programs to address current issues, such as racial equity, food justice, and climate change. The 2021-22 institute will have in-depth programming on utilizing culturally relevant farm to school programming in the cafeteria, classroom, and communities to further efforts in diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice. Participating schools will also become alumni of a ‘New York Farm to School Institute Network’, continuing to share best practices and resources with others championing Farm to School for years to come.
Special Edition!
Farm to School Video
53
FreshBites
FALL 2021
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