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 2024 premier sponsors – The Abbey Group, Community National Bank and Jay Peak!
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
Our Cabbage Preservation Party was so much fun! 15 people showed up to save leftover cabbage from going to waste by turning it into sauerkraut. Folks shared tips and tricks, and experimented with different seasonings: dill, caraway, curry powder, and garlic powder + black pepper. Everyone got to take a jar home (including a mystery-flavored jar which we ended up with, which we’re excited to try in a couple of weeks!)

Cabbage madness! Brighton Elementary School 3rd graders chop and scrunch away as they prepare cabbage to turn into sauerkraut! Fermentation is fun!

Our Food Hub Logistics Manager, Meggie Patton, had a fun trip to @montshirefarms in North Haverhill, NH the other day. Thank you Montshire for taking the time to meet and for the free case of Boyden Beef ground beef for our school customers to sample!

Preservation helps us enjoy nutritious food even when it’s out of season, and keeps it from going to waste. Join us THIS Wednesday at the Barton Memorial Hall for a cabbage preservation party, and bring home a jar of homemade sauerkraut! We will also discuss food sovereignty efforts in Barton & beyond. Hope to see you there!

✨Introducing @shrubbly - The Ultimate Wellness Drink!✨
Are you familiar with an old American tradition called Shrubs? Before refrigeration, people preserved perishable fruit by blending it with vinegar, creating flavorful mixers that are still enjoyed today! 🍓🍋
Shrubbly® is crafted using pressed organic fruit, herbs, and apple cider vinegar — and then mixing it with sparkling water to bring you a refreshing, crisp drink that’s perfect for any time of day. Yep, Shrub + Bubbly = Shrubbly.
But here’s the best part — Shrubbly® is also packed with wellness benefits, supporting your body so you can feel your best! Whether you’re sipping it for the taste or the health benefits, Shrubbly® is your new favorite daily superdrink.
#organic #localvermontbeverage
Funding for creating a sustainable local food system was made possible in part with a Rural Business Development Grant from USDA Rural Development.

For the final session of a cooking elective at Glover Community School, middle school students participated in their very own Chopped competition! In teams of two, the students were given a variety of ingredients and had an hour and a half to write their own recipe and cook two servings to be judged. A chef from Jay Peak even visited the session to judge their dishes based on five categories: creativity, teamwork, flavor, presentation, and cleanliness.
One team made vegetable soup with cabbage, carrots, celery, rice and beans. Another group made alfredo pasta with sauteed maple carrots and bell pepper. This session wrapped up weekly meetings on Fridays since the beginning of January. In addition to cooking meals, students created their own cookbooks, learned about budgeting on a trip to the grocery store, and practiced their knife skills.

Cast a vote for Green Mountain Farm-to-School for the White Market’s 2025 Coins for Community program! It takes less than a minute to vote and your support could make all the difference! Poll closes March 24th at 11pm.Vote here: whitesmarket.com
Thank you to the White Market for this opportunity!
Pictured: Lyndon Town students gardening during an after-school program facilitated by GMFTS

We are so proud of 23 middle-school students who have participated in our new Community Cooking program so far in Orleans, Brighton, and Troy. To date, the program has donated over 460 meals to local community organizations. We can’t wait to bring the program to more Northeast Kingdom schools next school year! Read more about the program in a recent article in the Caledonian Record. Link in bio.
Pictured: Brighton students package meals they made for seniors at Sunrise Manor
