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
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
Please help the Vermont Farm to School & Early Childhood Network understand how you have been affected by recent federal actions like the federal funding freeze or cuts to the Local Food for Schools and Child Care program. The network is collecting the stories of the impacts to our communities and state of Vermont. If you are a farmer, a food hub coordinator, a child nutrition professional, a technical assistance provider, a support organization, a community member who is affected - we want to hear from you!
Link in bio to share your story.
CALL TO ACTION: Stand up for farmers, kids, and communities by urging your elected officials to fight for local food!
What’s happened this week:
Nationally, the USDA has cancelled $1.2 billion in funding that was set to support local food purchases via the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools and Child Care (LFSCC) programs.
What does this mean for Vermont? About $1.7 million that was headed to the VT Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to fund local food programs for schools and organizations assisting low-income residents was revoked. $1.2 million of that money was designated for the LFSCC program - $944K of which was for VT schools (to be distributed through food hubs) and $277K for early childhood programs. 100% of the LFSCC funds were dedicated to food purchases and would have directly supported farms and fed kids.
Link in bio to take action!
It’s that time of year to prepare for the start of the sugaring season! Here at GMFTS, the Farm-to-School team kicks off the season with a visit to Jim and Donna at Judd’s Wayeeses Farms in Morgan. Each year, Jim and Donna generously spend a few hours educating our AmeriCorps members about running a sugaring operation, explaining how syrup is graded, discussing the science behind sugaring, and—most importantly—allowing us to taste the different grades of syrup! 🍁❄️
This year, the team snowshoed through the sugarbush to tour the sugarhouse and learn about the history of sugaring equipment. We had a special opportunity to spend time with Donna in the sugarbush, working with her tools and tapping trees. Thanks to Jim and Donna, the team is now well-prepared for the upcoming school field trips to local sugarhouses!
