Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) is a leader in the growing farm-to-school movement in Vermont. Our mission is to strengthen local food systems in Vermont by promoting positive economic relationships, education, and access between schools, farms, and communities.
We create and sustain healthy communities by working across the food system with capacity building, resource development, and technical assistance through our Farm-to-School program, Farm Direct food hub, and Lunchbox food truck.
Our Programs
Thank you to our 2025 premier sponsors – The Abbey Group and Community National Bank!
Our work is made possible because of a network of businesses, institutions, organizations and community members who are in partnership with us.
You can view all our supporters here. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Please contact Catherine at ccusack@gmfts.org
Follow Our Story
It was a spectacular evening for our community potluck last night at Bluffside Community Garden! Sunny, cool and breezy as 18 community members gathered to share delicious food from their gardens, including stuffed zucchini, cucumber salad, garden salsa, squash soup and rhubarb crisp. It was a beautiful mix of long-time residents, newer faces, seasoned gardeners and food enthusiasts, all with a shared goal of connecting to their community. 🥰
Thank you to the VT Dept of Health and @vermontlandtrust for co-hosting. Let’s do it again!
See what we’ve been up to lately in our summer newsletter (link in bio)! 🍉 Not receiving our quarterly newsletters in your inbox yet? 📧 You can subscribe on our website: gmfts.org
We had an amazing evening on Tuesday at @joesbrookfarm for a @nofavermont Pizza Social! 🍕🍉
Guests enjoyed delicious wood-fired pizza from NOFA, farm-fresh watermelon and cantaloupe straight from Joe’s Brook, and homemade zucchini brownies from our team.
It was truly heartening to come together, connect with the land, and celebrate the farmers who nourish our communities. Joe’s Brook Farm is a valued partner of our Farm Direct food hub, and we’re proud to work with them to bring more fresh, whole, local foods to Vermont schools. 🌱💚
Huge thanks to NOFA and Joe’s Brook for hosting such a beautiful gathering!
Our FINAL week at The Lunchbox was filled with books, bikes, and lots of GIANT zucchini!
The Lunchbox served a total of 4,129 free meals to kids 18 & younger this summer. We also distributed 1,071 pounds of local vegetables, fruit, and dairy products through our Market Basket table.
Shout out to our many community partners who make The Lunchbox such a fun & engaging space to enjoy a meal: @circussmirkus, @clifonline, Vermont Department of Health - Newport’s WIC program, @nekwmd, Newport Bicycles Friendly Committee, @stjhub , Gene “the snake guy”, @greaterbarton, Barton Public Library, Leach Public Library, Goodrich Memorial Library, and local authors Sharon Darrow, Christy Mihaly, Natalie Kinsey-Warnok, and Duncan McDougall.
Special thanks also to @salvationfarmsvt, Hornet Hill Farm, @jasperhillfarm, @petes.greens, and @berrycreekfarm1992 for sharing their abundance with our program! 🍅🥒
And much gratitude to our generous business sponsors for helping to make the program possible - @abbeygroupvt, @susankelleyharkey, @century21farmandforest, @communitynationalbankvt, @concept2inc , Donald Dahlin DDS, @eastrisecu, @jasperhillfarm, @jaypeakresort, @nekwmd, @northcountryfcu, @northcountryhospital, @mandt_bank, @passumpsicbank, Taylor-Moore Agency, @vt_electric_coop, @united_ag_and_turf_northeast.
See you next year! 🤗
Join us next Thursday to learn about, and celebrate, the transition of Green Mountain Natural Foods into a community-owned co-op! 🎊 And enjoy some delicious free samples from local producers! 🧀🍁🍷🥖
🗓️ When: August 21st, 4:30 - 6:30 PM
📍 Where: Green Mountain Natural Foods, 194 Main St, Newport, VT 05855
This is the FINAL WEEK for The Lunchbox Summer 2025! We’ve still got plenty of free vegetables & books to give away. 🥬🥒📚
@clifonline is returning to The Lunchbox this week in Barton, along with WIC’s Farm-to-Family Coupons. And, back by popular demand, the Learn-to-Ride Bicycle Course will be at Gardner Park in Newport! It’s going to be a grand finale week, so come join in the fun. 🚲✨
If you’ve visited The Lunchbox at all this summer, we’d love to hear about your experience! Please take a few moments to fill out our Lunchbox Summer 2025 Survey - and help shape our program! Link in bio to survey.
This week at The Lunchbox, families enjoyed sampling different types of zucchini muffins, including plain, chocolate chip, and walnut. Zucchini-chocolate chip was a clear favorite! Families in Newport also enjoyed a presentation from local author, Natalie Kinsey-Warnock, plus a book giveaway sponsored by the @clifonline . We love partnering with CLiF to offer combined access to reading & nutrition throughout the summer months.
We also gave away a whopping 240 pounds of fresh food through our Market Basket table! Thanks to donations from @salvationfarmsvt , Hornet Hill Farm, @petes.greens , @berrycreekfarm1992 , and our own lovely staff members who donate from their home gardens & CSAs. This feature of our program has grown exponentially over the past couple of years, and we are thrilled to help spread the abundance of food grown right here in the NEK. 🥕🥒🍅🥬
There is just ONE WEEK LEFT of The Lunchbox! Come see us next week for more fun & good food.
This time of year, our gardens are BURSTING with zucchini! This week at The Lunchbox, we’ll turn that zucchini into a delicious & nutritious snack using a simple recipe.
🌼🌱🌺🌱🍅🥒🥒🥒
WIC families - make sure to swing by Irasburg & Newport for some Farm-to-Family coupons!
And don’t miss story time in Newport, where local children’s book author Natalie Kinsey-Warnock will be reading and giving away free books, sponsored by @clifonline
If you’ve visited The Lunchbox at all this summer, we’d love to hear about your experience! Please take a few moments to fill out our Lunchbox Summer 2025 Survey - and help shape our program! Link in bio.
