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
This month at Troy School, kindergarten students prepared switchel for the Harvest of the Month taste test, highlighting maple syrup. The traditional beverage, known as “Nature’s Gatorade,” received mixed reviews. One student said she could “drink it every day,” while another shared that although the taste wasn’t her favorite, she would drink it again “for the health benefits.” Even though it sounded unfamiliar at first, curiosity helped students step outside their comfort zones and try something new!
Vermonters have no shortage of cheese options. 🧀 We want to take a moment to celebrate one of the state’s best: Creek Valley Farm. Located in Irasburg, Creek Valley Farm treats its cows like family. The cows always have access to the outdoors, even in the winter. The farm practices rotational grazing and does not use chemical fertilizers on pastures. Creek Valley operates a small cheese plant complete with a cave right on the farm. With their happy cows and sustainable farming practices, they proudly offer FOUR different kinds of incredible-tasting cheeses (🚨Creek Valley Gruyere available now)
Find Creek Valley’s incredible options at local stores like EO Randall General Store, @thegennyvt , @therootsfarmmarket
✨ Meet the Team: Piper ✨
Piper Toth joined the GMFTS team in 2023 and serves as our Finance Director, where she oversees the organization’s finances, guides budgeting and strategy, and supports staff with financial reporting.
With more than 20 years of experience working with nonprofits, small businesses, and universities, Piper brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to our team.
Piper works remotely from her home office in Athens, Ohio, where she also teaches yoga in the community. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, swimming, painting, reading, and traveling with her husband and dog.🎨🧘♀️
Read more about Piper and our whole team on our website. 🌱
This week, 3rd grade students at Newport City Elementary School wrapped up their unit on Vermont Agricultural History! 🌱🧩
They worked together to build a timeline puzzle, explored dairy traditions from around the world, and tasted a variety of local Vermont foods. It’s been such a fun and engaging way to learn about our region’s roots—we’ve loved discovering this history together!
✨ Meet the Team: Elyse ✨
Elyse Perambo joined GMFTS in December 2021. As our Farm-to-School Program Manager, Elyse manages and supports our Farm-to-School program and AmeriCorps team, collaborating with 14 schools across the NEK. She also coaches the St. Johnsbury School District and MMUUSD School District to develop and strengthen their Farm-to-School programs.
Elyse’s work extends to the Educational Value team within the Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Network. She was part of the team that organized and launched the statewide F.E.A.S.T (Farming, Education, and Sustainable Thinking) Summit, a remarkable youth-led event for 9-12th graders that is now thriving in its fourth year.
Outside of work, Elyse’s passion for farming and knitting shines through as she runs a small homestead farm with her family, raising Cashmere goats, sheep, chickens, and caring for two Angora rabbits that occasionally delight students during fall apple field trips.
You can read more about Elyse and our other team members on our website.
Go from seed to harvest with Vermont Public’s 10-week email course for beginning and intermediate gardeners. Learn more and sign up here: vermontpublic.org/sprouted 🌱🌱
In addition to maple, this month our food hub is celebrating purple potatoes! These vibrant beauties come from Sparrow Arc Farm, located in Guildhall, Vermont, and they’ll be making their way to over 20 local schools and hospitals this month.
Sparrow Arc’s crops are delicious and affordable, perfect for chefs, processors, and schools throughout Vermont. Check out their regular potato offerings (red, russet, gold, and more) on our Farm Direct website (link in bio).
This winter, we’ve been busy building food system connections in the Kingdom and beyond — from farm-to-school education to food hub distribution and community food access programs. Our Winter Newsletter shares highlights from the past season and the partners who help make this work possible. 🥕
Click the link in our bio to see what we’ve been up to!
