As a nonprofit serving Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom region and beyond, Green Mountain Farm-to-School works to strengthen our local food systems and increase equitable access to local foods.
Who We Serve
Farms
We help Vermont farms and food businesses grow by connecting them with local buyers, from schools to co-ops. At the same time, we provide targeted marketing and sales support.
60 farm and food business partners
Schools
We connect students to food through hands-on farm-to-school programs in Northeast Kingdom schools, including cooking, gardening, and farm field trips. We also help schools across Northern and Central Vermont buy more from nearby farms and improve the quality of school meals.
17 school partners for educational programming
75 school partners for local food distribution
Communities
We bring people together around food through hands-on workshops and shared meals across the Northeast Kingdom, building skills, strengthening community, and learning by doing. We also expand access to local food by connecting farms with stores, schools, and community food programs.
11 towns served by community programming
83 towns in our local food distribution network
Did you know that @efficiencyvt isn’t just for homeowners?
They have programs to benefit schools, farms, and food businesses, too! This includes a wide range of rebates available for equipment such as refrigeration, heating, ventilation, reverse-osmosis systems, cow milk pumps, lighting, and more!
With professional energy advisors and contractors on staff, they are ready to save you money. They also have financing available for projects that will result in greater energy-efficiency for your home or business. Learn more at: efficiencyvermont.com
With winter fast-approaching, Efficiency Vermont will be hosting a series of FREE webinars focused on weatherization to help you get more bang for your buck. With costs on the rise, it’s a great time to learn how you can make your home or business more energy-efficient!
Register for any of the FREE webinars at: buttonupvermont.org
Nothing says fall in Vermont quite like apples, which is why we’re excited to feature them as October’s @vtharvestofthemonth! 🍎🍏
This month, Green Mountain Farm Direct is distributing 96 cases of apples from Hall’s Orchard to schools across the state to incorporate into their menu planning and farm-to-school educational programming.
Family-owned since 1828, @halls_orchard is one of the oldest orchards in the state. Based in Isle La Motte, the orchard offers many different apple varieties, pick-your-own apples, and fresh cider in season. Owner-and-operator Allen Hall works hard to keep prices affordable so Vermont schools can purchase local apples throughout the fall.
Did you know that there are over 14,000 varieties of apples grown in the United States? Farm Direct has some great varieties available on our product list from @champlainorchards, based in Shoreham, VT.
We hope you get out to pick your own apples or support your nearby orchards by buying your apples locally this fall!
📷 Photos 1-4 of Hall’s Orchard by @vermontcorey and photos 5-7 of Champlain Orchards by @champlainorchards
…
This post was written by Green Mountain Farm-to-School’s Food Hub Account Manager, Emma Radeka. AI was not used to generate this content.
We had a lovely time on Saturday at Irasburg’s Common Ground community celebration! It was a beautiful fall day as community members gathered for the festivities. Visitors delighted in our vegetarian chili, which featured local beans from Morningstar Farm and vegetables from school gardens - several kids even came back for seconds! 🫘🍅🫑
Leftover chili and cornbread from the event were donated to @nekca_vermont and distributed hot during food shelf hours on Tuesday. Food shelf patrons were grateful for the warm meal and opportunity to socialize. We love working with NEKCA to get whole, nutritious foods to people who need them most. 💛
...
This post was written by our Food Access & Logistics Coordinator, Hilary Rosa. AI was not used to generate this content.
IT’S BACK: Creek Valley Farm’s gruyere is back in stock, and we couldn’t be more excited! 🧀Launched this past spring, the farm was totally sold out by summer. Creek Valley Cheese is made sustainably, by hand, and with milk from the happiest cows in the Northeast Kingdom. You can find Creek Valley products at the EO Randall General Store, @therootsfarmmarket, @thegennyvt, Delicious Dirt Farm, and @caledoniacoop.
Learn more: facebook.com/lorindascheese
This post was written by our Food Hub Operations Director, Meggie Patton. AI was not used to generate this content.
Got plans this Saturday? Check out this lovely community event in Irasburg!💛
There will be lots of fun activities for kids, including face paint, a bouncy house, cider pressing, and pony rides!
The Lunchbox will be there serving up some delicious food featuring local ingredients and produce from our school garden.
Come by and say hi, and check out the fall festivities! 🍂 And make sure to stick around for the bike parade at 2pm!
...
This post was written by our Food Access & Logistics Coordinator, Hilary Rosa. AI was not used to generate this content.
‼️ New Food Hub Customer Alert ‼️
Farm Direct is absolutely thrilled to help provide local foods to @caledoniacoop as they hit ground running at their newly-finished storefront located in St. Johnsbury!
After nearly 8 years of community conversations, laborious planning, extensive fundraising, and brick and mortar construction, the co-op is finally up and running, making healthy, local food more accessible to area residents. The store will carry fresh produce, VT meats and dairy products, artisan breads and baked goods, natural and organic grocery items, and locally crafted products from NEK businesses, keeping money circulating within our region. The store also accepts EBT payment.
Follow along with their progress at @caledoniacoop and stay tuned for community events! Learn more at: caledoniafood.coop 🍓
...
This post was written by our Food Access & Logistics Coordinator, Hilary Rosa. AI was not used to generate this content.
Last Thursday, we had a lovely evening at @sweetrowenfarmstead for a Pizza Social with @nofavermont!🍕
Against a stunning backdrop of mountains, rolling hills, and fields of cows grazing peacefully, visitors enjoyed local food while learning about and exploring the farm.🐄
We loved connecting with people and sharing about our programs! Sweet Rowen is a valued partner for our food hub program, Farm Direct, and we’re proud to work with them to bring their delicious dairy products to Vermont communities. Sweet Rowen employs regenerative and sustainable practices and is currently in the process of transitioning to certified organic! Learn more on their website: sweetrowen.com/farm
Thank you to our friends at NOFA-VT and Sweet Rowen for inviting us to be part of this community gathering! 💛
...
This post was written by our Development Manager, Rose Lovett. AI was not used to generate this content.
School is back in session in Vermont, and peppers are on the menu as the @vtharvestofthemonth! Green Mountain Farm Direct is distributing sweet peppers from @honeyfieldfarm in Norwich, VT to 44 schools across the state to incorporate these colorful veggies into school meals and farm-to-school educational programming. We’re also sending summer squash and zucchini (abundant and in season!) from Honey Field to partner schools.
Located in Norwich, @honeyfieldfarm offers vibrant flowers and certified organic veggies on its 15 acres of land. The farm also offers starts for those who want to begin their gardens at home. Honey Field Farm believes in increasing regional food security and works hard to make high-quality produce affordable and accessible.
Do you have a Vermont Harvest of the Month story from your home, school, or work? Send a message to @vtharvestofthemonth and share what you’re up to!
Thanks to our generous lead sponsors!
