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
On Tuesday, our team prepared and served the community lunch at the Barton Hub. On the menu was BBQ pulled pork (from our very own Meggie’s pig, Waffles), coleslaw, smokey BBQ beans featuring black beans from Morningstar Farm in Glover, maple-glazed carrots gleaned by Salvation Farms and prepped by students at Troy School, cornbread, and our famous beet-brownies to pay homage to January’s Harvest of the Month: beets!
Staff volunteer days like this bring our team closer together, and closer to our communities. Thank you to @nekorganizing and all our friends at the Barton Hub for making these meals happen each week. Feeding community nutritious, local food fills our hearts with joy!
Last month, Jay Westfield Joint Elementary School’s kindergarten class finished off a series of farm unit lessons with the Poultry Power lesson! Students learned about chickens, their importance to farmers, and the parts of an egg. 🥚🐓
✨ Meet the Team: Introducing Emma! ✨
Emma is our newest team member and joined GMFTS this month as our Food Hub Account Manager, where she builds partnerships that connect local farmers and producers with schools, institutions, and retailers through Green Mountain Farm Direct.
She holds a degree in Environmental Studies from UVM and is a trained clinical herbalist, with a background in agricultural, herbal, and environmental education. Outside of work, Emma loves skiing, mountain biking, playing bass, practicing archery, and dancing salsa!
We’re so excited to have Emma on the GMFTS team—welcome!
Read more about Emma and our other team members on our website.
Join the team at Green Mountain Farm-to-School! We are seeking an AmeriCorps Farm-to-School Coordinator who is passionate about supporting local food systems and enhancing the lives of elementary students through hands-on education. If you enjoy teaching, gardening, and cooking, this six-month position, starting in mid to late February and running through late August 2026, could be the perfect fit for you. This is a fantastic opportunity to kick-start your career while engaging in meaningful community service amidst the stunning beauty and culture of Northern Vermont. 🌄🌱 Link in bio to learn more and apply!
To kick off a series of “Meet Our Team” posts, we’re introducing our Food Systems Intern, Ephraim! Ephraim is a high school senior and 2nd generation farmer from Lowell, VT. In Lowell, Ephriam grew up with our Farm-to-School program, and says some of his fondest school memories are when GMFTS came to his classroom. He is eager to learn more about the food system in order to run and grow his family business someday.
Ephraim loves most things fantasy and plays games like Dungeons and Dragons and Magic the Gathering. He has experience blacksmithing and sheet metal working.
Here he is pictured at the CAE Farm Connex warehouse in Hardwick, helping manage inventory for our food hub, Farm Direct.
Last week, fifth graders at Newport City Elementary School explored the science of preservation and fermentation! 🥬
Students didn’t just learn how fermentation works—they put it into practice by making sauerkraut right in the classroom. Now they’ll get to observe the changes as the fermentation process happens in real time.
With the holidays just around the corner, we’re encouraging folks to buy local whenever possible. Here are a few delicious ways to support Vermont farmers and food producers this season:
🍎 Sip local with apple cider from Champlain Orchards
🧀 Elevate your charcuterie with cheese from Blue Ledge Farm and cured meats from Vermont Salumi
🍨 Sweeten Christmas dinner with eggnog and ice cream from Strafford Organic Creamery
🍫 Fill those stockings with treats from Prophecy Chocolate and Sweet Mountain Chocolates
As you wrap up your holiday shopping, keep an eye out for these incredible Vermont-made products — and so many others.
Spending Vermont dollars locally keeps money circulating in our state, supports local jobs, strengthens small businesses, and builds community resilience.
Happy Holidays from Green Mountain Farm Direct. 🎄🎄🎄
This fall at Charleston Elementary’s Garden Club and Junior Farmer after-school programs, students have been busy learning and creating together! From seed saving and felting wool to making homemade ranch dressing, kids explored where food comes from, discovered new skills, and whipped up some tasty snacks along the way. 🥕✨
