Vermont Everyone Eats, One Million Meals Served
By on Monday, May 3rd, 2021 in Uncategorized. No Comments
CONTACTS: Alida Farrell Consumer Education and Food Access Coordinator Green Mountain Farm to School afarrell@gmfts.org Meghan Wayland Food Access Coordinator The Center for an Agricultural Economy meghan@hardwickagricultre.com On Thursday, April 29, Vermont Everyone Eats, an innovative COVID-19 response program, celebrated one million meals served to Vermonters from Orleans County restaurants and caterers like the Parker Read the full article…
GMFTS Delivering Free Meals to Migrant Farm Workers in the NEK through Vermont Everyone Eats
By on Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 in Food Insecurity, Green Mountain Farm-to-School, Press Release, Uncategorized. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm-to-School Delivering Free Meals to Migrant Farm Workers in the NEK through Vermont Everyone Eats NEWPORT, VT Contact: Alida Farrell, Local Food Access Coordinator afarrell@gmfts.org March 22, 2021 In an effort to reach some of the most important yet underserved populations of the Northeast Kingdom, Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) is delivering 130 free Read the full article…
Winter 2021 Newsletter
By on Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 in Green Mountain Farm-to-School, Newsletter. No Comments
Click here to read the Winter 2021 Newsletter from GMFTS: https://mailchi.mp/1f44344ea7cc/gmfts-spring-newsletter-4721290
Green Mountain Farm Direct Hits Record Sales Week, Distributes More Local Food to NEK Communities
By on Friday, January 8th, 2021 in Farm Direct, Food Insecurity, Green Mountain Farm-to-School, Press Release, Producers, Uncategorized. No Comments
NEWPORT, VT Contact: Amrita Parry, Food Hub Accounts Manager Green Mountain Farm-to-School aparry@gmfts.org (802) 334-2044 Green Mountain Farm Direct Hits Record Sales Week, Distributes More Local Food to NEK Communities Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) is a small nonprofit based out of Newport, VT, working with local farmers and the charitable food system to overcome Read the full article…
GMFTS Receives New Grants from the Vermont Community Foundation to Increase Capacity, Address Food Insecurity in the NEK
By on Thursday, December 17th, 2020 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Alida Farrell, GMFTS’s new Local Food Access Coordinator, pictured with bags of food prepared at the Orleans Federated Church Community Food Shelf. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWPORT, VT Contact: Jessica Weston, Communications and Development Coordinator Green Mountain Farm-to-School jweston@gmfts.org (802) 334-2044 Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS), has been awarded over $20,000 in grants from the Vermont Community Read the full article…
Teaching Garden-Based Education on Abenaki Land
By on Monday, December 7th, 2020 in Farm-to-School, Green Mountain Farm-to-School. No Comments
By Esmé Forbes, AmeriCorps Farm to School Coordinaor Map of Abenaki Tribes in the Northeast Source: http://abenakiart.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Grades_3_to_5_-_Study_Guide_-_Alnobak.95203501.pdf Green Mountain Farm-to-Schools programs operate throughout the Northeast Kingdom. This is the ancestral and current homeland of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation. The Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe became officially recognized by the State of Vermont in Read the full article…
Dismantling the Thanksgiving Myth with Kids
By on Monday, November 23rd, 2020 in Farm-to-School, Uncategorized. No Comments
By Esmé Forbes, AmeriCorps Farm to School Coordinator Visual depiction of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address (Ohen:ton Karihwatehkwen) – Greetings to the Natural World by Erwin Printup, Jr. The illustration is from the book, Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp. This year, Green Mountain Farm-to-School’s AmeriCorps members are aiming to dismantle Read the full article…
Green Mountain Farm-to-School Delivers Free Meals for Vermont Everyone Eats
By on Thursday, November 5th, 2020 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) has partnered with the new Vermont Everyone Eats program to distribute prepared meals to people negatively impacted by the pandemic. GMFTS is delivering 350 meals per week in the NEK. The program reimburses local restaurants for preparing locally-sourced meals for Vermonters struggling with food insecurity. Restaurants must use local ingredients in Read the full article…
Green Mountain Farm-to-School Receives Grant to Deliver Local Food to Craftsbury and Albany Food Share Programs
By on Thursday, October 15th, 2020 in Farm Direct, Food Insecurity, Green Mountain Farm-to-School, Press Release, Producers. No Comments
CRAFTSBURY, VT Contact: Catherine Cusack, Executive Director October 8, 2020 The Green Mountain Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation has awarded a $5,000 grant to Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) to support the purchase and delivery of local food for the Craftsbury and Albany food share program. The deliveries will be facilitated by GMFTS’s local food Read the full article…
GMFTS is The White Market’s “Coins for Community” Partner during October
By on Monday, October 5th, 2020 in Farm-to-School, Green Mountain Farm-to-School, Harvest of the Month, Producers, Uncategorized. No Comments
Big news! Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) has partnered with the White Market for their Coins for Community program which allows customers to donate to a rotating local nonprofit organization each month. For the entire month of October, White Market shoppers can “round up” their purchase at checkout to donate to GMFTS, or choose an amount Read the full article…
Farm to School is Enhancing the Outdoor Classroom in Northeast Kingdom Schools
By on Friday, September 25th, 2020 in Farm-to-School, Green Mountain Farm-to-School, Press Release, Uncategorized. No Comments
NEWPORT, VT Contact: Maire Folan, mfolan@gmfts.org (802) 334-2044 September 21, 2020 Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) is working with 15 schools in the Northeast Kingdom to provide meaningful STEM learning opportunities in the outdoors this school year. “Outdoor classrooms” have become increasingly popular this year, as teachers take their students outdoors as much as possible – Read the full article…
GMFTS Hosts Free Local Food Distribution Event with NEKCA in Canaan
By on Wednesday, September 16th, 2020 in Green Mountain Farm-to-School, Press Release, Uncategorized. No Comments
NEWPORT, VT Contact: Jessica Weston, jweston@gmfts.org, (802) 334-2044 September 16, 2020 Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS), a small nonprofit based out of Newport, VT, has been working to fight ongoing COVID-19 related food insecurity while contributing to local economic recovery by connecting local farmers with the charitable food system. Their local food hub, Green Mountain Farm Read the full article…
End of Summer Newsletter from GMFTS
By on Wednesday, September 16th, 2020 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Click here to view our end of summer newsletter and read about what we’ve been up to the past couple months!
Green Mountain Farm-to-School Launches New Initiatives to Fight COVID-19 Food Insecurity in the Northeast Kingdom
By on Monday, July 20th, 2020 in Uncategorized. No Comments
NEWPORT, VT Contact: Jessica Weston, jweston@gmfts.org, (802) 334-2044July 20, 2020 Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS), a small nonprofit organization seeks to mitigate COVID-related food insecurity and promote the use of local food in the Northeast Kingdom through various new and emerging initiatives. This includes running a free summer meal site for children 18 and under all Read the full article…
The Market Basket Returns to Provide Free, Local Produce to the Community
By on Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 in Uncategorized. No Comments
In an effort to get more local food out to our community and to reduce waste in school gardens, GMFTS is expanding the Lunchbox’s “Market Basket” program for 2020. After a successful pilot year in 2019, Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) has secured more funding to operate the Market Basket at the Lunchbox, thanks to grants Read the full article…
The Lunchbox Returns with Free Summer Meal Service for Children
By on Tuesday, June 9th, 2020 in Uncategorized. No Comments
The Lunchbox, a mobile food truck and free meal service, is on back on the road after a long winter hibernation! Starting June 17th, the Lunchbox will be serving 9 weeks of free meals to kids 18 and under throughout the summer. Lunch is served from 11 AM – 1 PM from June 17th through Read the full article…
Green Mountain Farm-to-School Receives $10,000 Grant to Purchase and Deliver Local Food for Area Food Pantries
By on Tuesday, May 12th, 2020 in Uncategorized. No Comments
NEWPORT, VT Contact: Jessica Weston, jweston@gmfts.org, (802) 334-2044 May 5, 2020 Green Mountain Farm Direct (GMFD), a local food hub run by Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS), works to connect local farms with schools, restaurants, and institutions across Northern Vermont to help increase farms’ sales and boost consumption of local food in the region. By fostering Read the full article…
#GivingTuesdayNow and Beyond – A Spring Fundraiser to Support GMFTS’s Response to COVID-19
By on Monday, May 4th, 2020 in Uncategorized. No Comments
#GivingTuesdayNow and Beyond – A Spring Fundraiser to Support GMFTS’s Response to COVID-19 Here at Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) we are encouraged by the resiliency of our community under such sudden and extraordinary pressures. We have seen so many acts of kindness and selflessness, as individuals, organizations, and businesses go out of their way to Read the full article…
GMFTS Finding New Ways to Support our Community
By on Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 in Uncategorized. No Comments
With Spring, there comes Hope …and GARDENS! Dear GMFTS Family – in these times of uncertainty we are grateful to have you as our friends, partners, and supporters – – we are thinking of you and hope you are staying healthy and well. Spring has certainly sprung here in Vermont, and we encourage you to Read the full article…
An Update from Green Mountain Farm Direct Regarding COVID-19
By on Monday, March 23rd, 2020 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Dear Farm Direct community, We would like to take this opportunity to update you on our operations during the COVID-19 outbreak. Green Mountain Farm Direct remains open and operational and we are dedicated to bringing you fresh, local food when our community needs it most. We are open to creative approaches during this time. If Read the full article…
Benefit Raffle: Win a Jay Peak Getaway!
By on Tuesday, January 21st, 2020 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Online sales for the raffle are now closed! Tickets may be purchased in-person at the 12th Annual Taste of the Kingdom until 8pm
GMFTS Helps Host Northeast Regional Farm to School Gathering at Canaan School
By on Monday, January 6th, 2020 in Uncategorized. No Comments
At Canaan School this past October, Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) and the Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE) hosted the Vermont Farm to School Network’s Regional Fall Gathering for the Northeast. The gathering served as a celebration of farm to school (FTS) efforts and successes around the state. It allowed Northeastern Vermont FTS coordinators and Read the full article…
Farm Direct Engages in first Hub-to-Hub Transaction
By on Friday, December 27th, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
In early December, Green Mountain Farm to School (GMFTS)’s local food hub, Green Mountain Farm Direct (GMFD), successfully engaged in it’s first hub-to-hub transaction in an effort to expand the product catalog for the holidays. GMFD is part of a Food Hub Collaborative project that links five different Vermont food hubs in the interest of Read the full article…
GMFTS Welcomes Two New Staff Members
By on Thursday, November 14th, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) is happy to announce the arrival of two new additions to our team – Jessica Weston and Laurie Evans. Jessica joined in September as Communications and Development Coordinator, and Laurie joined in October as Finance Coordinator. Jessica is originally from Dayton, Ohio, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Read the full article…
Open Position: AmeriCorps Farm to School Coordinator
By on Thursday, October 31st, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Start-Date: Flexible, Fall/Winter 2019 End-Date: August 7th, 2020 Location: Newport, Vermont About Green Mountain Farm-to-School Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) is a nonprofit organization promoting the health and well-being of Vermont’s children, farms and communities by providing programs to connect schools and farms through food and education. In the 2019-2020 academic year, GMFTS aims to serve Read the full article…
Local School Harvest Festivals are a Success!
By on Wednesday, October 9th, 2019 in Farm-to-School, Press Release, Uncategorized. No Comments
NEWPORT, VT Contact: Jessica Weston, jweston@gmfts.org, (802) 334-2044 October 9, 2019 Did you know? October is National Farm to School Month! Green Mountain Farm To School (GMFTS) was excited to celebrate this occasion with the successful completion of several Harvest Festivals at 11 different Northeast Kingdom Schools. These festivals are a unique culmination of the Read the full article…
Fall 2019 On Farm Community Dinner
By on Wednesday, September 4th, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
GMFTS Coaches State Grant Recipients in Farm to School
By on Thursday, August 29th, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
In February 2019, Farm to School Program Manager, Maire Folan, began serving as a coach for the 2019 grantees of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) Farm to School Program. The coaching support Folan is providing over the two-year grant period is essential to sustaining the grantee’s Farm to School efforts far Read the full article…
Lunchbox sees 76% increase in free meals served
By on Thursday, August 29th, 2019 in Green Mountain Farm-to-School, Press Release. No Comments
August 28, 2019 – NEWPORT, VT Between June 19th and August 15th, the Lunchbox food truck, a free summer meal site, served 3,219 free meals to kids and teens and sold 583 adult meals to community members in Barton, Derby, and Newport, Vermont. The number of meals served represents a 76% increase in free meals Read the full article…
4th Biennial Northeast Kingdom Farm to School Conference
By on Wednesday, August 28th, 2019 in Farm-to-School, Green Mountain Farm-to-School. No Comments
Thanks for your interest in our Farm to School Conference! We are postponing this year’s conference to a later date. Please stay tuned for more details!
19 school gardens thrive through the summer
By on Tuesday, July 30th, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
NEWPORT, VT – July 29, 2019 A cornerstone of Green Mountain Farm-to-School’s programming is the 19 school gardens we plant, maintain, and harvest with the help of five AmeriCorps Farm to School Coordinators. These school gardens provide rich learning opportunities for the students we work with, offering lessons in topics such as environmental chemistry, geometry, Read the full article…
The Lunchbox is on track to serve more free, locally-sourced meals than ever before!
By on Tuesday, July 30th, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Since June 19th, the Lunchbox food truck has served over 1800 free youth meals in Barton, Newport, and Derby, Vermont. The Lunchbox is a free summer meal site and mobile learning kitchen operated in partnership by Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) and the Abbey Food Service Group. The program aims to provide the community with healthy Read the full article…
The Children’s Literacy Foundation Brings Stories and Books to the Lunchbox
By on Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Contact: Sophie Westover swestover@gmfts.org 802 334 2044 [Newport, VT] — On Wednesday, July 10, 2019 from 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM at the Barton Public Library, children and teens are invited to a storytelling presentation and brand-new book give away at Green Mountain Farm-to-School’s (GMFTS) Lunchbox food truck. This event is made possible by a Read the full article…
2019 Summer Block Party Kicks off Summer
By on Thursday, June 6th, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) is hosting it’s 5th Summer Block Party in the Kingdom, a free community event, on June 20 from 3 PM to 6 PM at Gardner Park in Newport. The event marks the start of GMFTS’ summer meal program, the Lunchbox food truck, and will feature free meals for kids 18 and Read the full article…
Lunchbox Returns with Summer Food Service Program
By on Thursday, May 30th, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
The Lunchbox, a summer meal program providing food education, is on the road again this season! Starting June 19th, the Lunchbox will be serving 10 weeks of free meals to kids 18 and under throughout the summer. Lunch is served from 11 AM – 1 PM from June 19th through August 14th and supper will Read the full article…
GMFTS brings $68,000 worth of fresh produce to SNAP recipients
By on Thursday, May 30th, 2019 in Coupon Program. No Comments
NEWPORT, VT – May 9, 2019 On April 30, Green Mountain Farm-to-School ended its fourth year of operating the Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Coupon Program, distributing $70,000 worth of coupons for fresh produce to residents of Essex and Orleans counties enrolled in 3SquaresVT, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This year 89% Read the full article…
Join GMFTS for our 2nd Annual Giving Day!
By on Thursday, May 16th, 2019 in Green Mountain Farm-to-School. No Comments
Don’t see a level that works for you? No worries, give what you can, and we’ll be sure to put it to good use! Click here to give
Production Planning: Bringing Harvest of the Month Foods to Cafeteria Plates
By on Thursday, May 2nd, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
How three GMFTS programs – Green Mountain Farm Direct, Farm to School, and the Vermont Harvest of the Month – work together to increase the amount of fresh Vermont-grown foods on cafeteria plates. In 2009, GMFTS founded its mission-driven food hub, Green Mountain Farm Direct (GMFD), to increase access to healthy food by delivering from Read the full article…
Keeping the ‘Farm’ in Farm to School
By on Thursday, May 2nd, 2019 in Farm-to-School, Green Mountain Farm-to-School. No Comments
Farm to school programs at GMFTS focuses on experiential, hands-on learning that reaches across the cafeteria, classroom, and community. To learn more about why farm field trips are an important piece of this equation, we sat down with AmeriCorps Farm to School Coordinator, Madeline McGonagle, to hear about her experiences. Why is it important to Read the full article…
GMFTS 2017-2018 Annual Report
By on Thursday, May 2nd, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm to School is pleased to share our 2017-2018 Annual Report with our community. Read the full report here.
We’re Hiring: Food Hub Logistics Manager
By on Friday, April 26th, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
See Full Posting: 2019 Food Hub Logistics Manager Green Mountain Farm-to-SchoolFood Hub Logistics Manager Location:Newport,Vermont Position Description Green Mountain Farm-to-School seeks a dynamic professional with strong organization skills to support the growth and operations of our food hub. The Food Hub Logistics Manager will manage the operations and systems of Green Mountain Farm Direct (GMFD), Read the full article…
Green Mountain Farm-to School to Honor School Lunch Heroes
By on Wednesday, April 24th, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
School Lunch Hero Day is May 3, 2019 NEWPORT, Vermont – Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) works with a variety of school nutrition staff at schools throughout the region. These professionals are critical to getting local food onto cafeteria plates and go above and beyond to support GMFTS’s farm to school programming at the schools we Read the full article…
The ‘Coventry Shredders’ join the 12th Annual Jr. Iron Chef competition
By on Wednesday, April 10th, 2019 in Farm-to-School, Green Mountain Farm-to-School, Uncategorized. No Comments
By: Rachel Proctor April 9, 2019 NEWPORT, VERMONT- Four, sixth-grade students from Coventry Village School were proud to compete with 67 other Vermont schools at the 12th Annual Jr. Iron Chef competition hosted by Vermont Food Education Every Day (VT FEED) on March 16th at the Champlain Valley Exposition Center in Essex Junction, Vermont. The Read the full article…
Employment Opportunity: AmeriCorps Farm to School Coordinator
By on Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Full Posting: GMFTS FTS Coordinator, 2019-2020 This position is part of the Lyndon Economic opportunity AmeriCorps Program (LEAP). LEAP is a national service program that places AmeriCorps members with non-profit organizations throughout the NEK of Vermont to support those organizations in expanding their services that many communities rely on. LEAP supports their members in their Read the full article…
GMFTS & Jay Peak Resort hosts the 11th Annual Taste of the Kingdom
By on Tuesday, February 19th, 2019 in Uncategorized. No Comments
NEWPORT — The 11th Annual Taste of the Kingdom, a fundraising event held by Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS), will take place on February 27th at 6 p.m. at Jay Peak Resort’s Foeger Ballroom. Tickets are on sale now and available for purchase online . Guests will enjoy small plates and sample beverages from over 20 Read the full article…
GMFTS Benefit Raffle: Win a Jay Peak Getaway
By on Tuesday, January 15th, 2019 in Farm-to-School, Green Mountain Farm-to-School, Taste of the Kingdom. No Comments
Enter the Green Mountain Farm-to-School raffle for your chance to win a 2-night stay for 4 people in a Hotel Jay Suite – Lift Tickets, Waterpark, and Climb Time included! To purchase raffle tickets online, click the donate button below and make a donation in a multiple of $5 (i.e. $10/2 tickets, $30/6 tickets, etc.) and Read the full article…
Irasburg Village School: Why Compost Matters
By on Friday, January 4th, 2019 in Farm-to-School, Green Mountain Farm-to-School. No Comments
In 2013, lunchtime at Irasburg Village School (IVS) looked a lot different than it does today. Uneaten food and kitchen scraps went straight into trash cans, then on to landfills. The need for a composting program was apparent. But how to get there presented a challenge. At first, in the school started small – composting Read the full article…
GMFTS On-Farm Dinner connects the community to local farmers
By on Thursday, November 1st, 2018 in Press Release. No Comments
NEWPORT, VT- October, 31, 2018 On Thursday, October 18th, an unseasonably cold day, 37 members of our community gathered for Green Mountain Farm-to-School’s 2018 Fall On-Farm Community Dinner at Morningstar Farm in Glover, Vermont. The event was an opportunity to connect individuals with area farmers and celebrate the region’s vibrant local food economy. The event Read the full article…
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Coupon Program increases access to healthy foods
By on Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 in Uncategorized. No Comments
For the fourth consecutive year, Green Mountain Farm-to-School is offering $60,000 in coupons for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables to the residents of Essex and Orleans counties enrolled in 3SquaresVT, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Coupon program annually reaches over 3000 households in an Read the full article…
Celebrate National Farm to School Month in October
By on Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 in Uncategorized. No Comments
October is National Farm to School Month, a time to celebrate connections happening all over the country between schools, food, and local farmers! Farm to school enriches the connections communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and early care and education settings. With Read the full article…
Customer Spotlight: Craig Lorcano on 9 years with Farm Direct
By on Monday, September 17th, 2018 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm-to-School’s mission-driven food hub, Green Mountain Farm Direct (Farm Direct), is a reliable source for wholesale local food purchasing that is working to improve farm viability in the region. Last year, GMFD worked with 34 food producers to distribute $409,344 worth of local food to almost 100 schools, retailers, and institutions in Northern Read the full article…
Lunchbox food truck works to fill summer nutrition gap
By on Wednesday, September 12th, 2018 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm-to-School’s mobile summer meal site, the Lunchbox food truck spent the summer out on the road again serving up free healthy, locally-sourced meals to our community. This year, the Lunchbox served 1,820 free meals to children, an 18 percent increase from the number of free meals the truck served in 2017. Additionally, 497 Read the full article…
Farm to School Coordinators gear up for the coming school year
By on Wednesday, September 12th, 2018 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Farm field trips, taste tests, cooking lessons, harvest festivals, and soil science projects are just a few components of the hands-on education AmeriCorps Farm to School Coordinators provide to students across the region. We caught up with some of our current Farm to School Coordinators to hear what they are excited about this coming school year Read the full article…
Communities gather for Harvest Festivals at local schools
By on Tuesday, September 11th, 2018 in Farm-to-School, Green Mountain Farm-to-School, Press Release. No Comments
For its tenth consecutive year, Green Mountain Farm-to-School will host Harvest Festivals with 11 Northeast Kingdom schools in celebration of local food, agriculture and healthy communities. Harvest Festivals are an opportunity for the community to gather around and share a meal prepared by students from produce harvested from school gardens or sourced from local producers. Read the full article…
GMFTS Giving Day raises over $30,000 to support programming
By on Tuesday, June 12th, 2018 in Uncategorized. No Comments
June 11, 2018 Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) would like to extend its most sincere thank you to supporters of its first-ever Giving Day held on June 1, 2018. The day brought in over $20,000 in gifts, along with a $10,000 matching gift from a generous anonymous donor, bringing the total raised to over $30,000. The Read the full article…
Green Mountain Farm-to-School Strategic Plan 2018-2021
By on Monday, June 11th, 2018 in Press Release. No Comments
In October 2017, we convened with staff and our board of directors to develop a robust strategic plan to guide our work in the coming four years. With this plan in hand, our organization strives towards achieving our vision to build a local food system in Vermont that promotes environmental stewardship, creates a sustainable economy, Read the full article…
Lunchbox Returns with Summer Food Service Program
By on Wednesday, June 6th, 2018 in Press Release. No Comments
Lunchbox Returns with Summer Food Service Program The Lunchbox, a summer meal program providing food education, is on the road again this season! Starting June 20th, the Lunchbox will be serving 10 weeks of free meals to kids 18 and under throughout the summer. Breakfast is served from 8 AM – 10 AM and lunch Read the full article…
Farm Direct producer Allen Hall benefits from partnership
By on Friday, May 25th, 2018 in Producers. No Comments
Family owned since 1828, owner-operator Allen Hall of Hall’s Orchards, grows and harvests apples and pears in Isle La Motte. Hall has worked with Green Mountain Farm Direct (GMFD), Green Mountain Farm-to-School’s mission-driven food-hub, since 2014. “I’ve been more than happy with my experience with Green Mountain Farm Direct,” says Hall, “working with Amrita and Read the full article…
‘Hill Farmstead Half’ Marathon raises funds for GMFTS
By on Thursday, May 24th, 2018 in Press Release. No Comments
Craftsbury Outdoor Center presents the “Hill Farmstead Half” – a point to point trail and dirt road half marathon from the Craftsbury Outdoor Center to Hill Farmstead Brewery. Race entries raise money for Green Mountain Farm to School’s mission to strengthen local food systems in the NEK by promoting positive economic and educational relationships among schools, farms, and communities. Set Read the full article…
GMFTS inspires love for gardens and appreciation for local food systems
By on Tuesday, May 15th, 2018 in Green Mountain Farm-to-School. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm-to-School works with an average of 3,000 students each year, connecting students to food through school gardens, farm field trips, taste tests, and hands-on education. Our Farm-to-School Coordinators work with over half of the students in the Northeast Kingdom, planting and maintaining 24 school gardens annually. GMFTS started at one school, ten Read the full article…
Celebrating 10 years of Green Mountain Farm-to-School
By on Wednesday, May 9th, 2018 in Green Mountain Farm-to-School. No Comments
Celebrating 10 years of Green Mountain Farm-to-School Cultivating healthy communities since 2008 2018 marks Green Mountain Farm-to-School’s 10-year anniversary. Over the past decade, GMFTS and our partners have worked together to increase access to local, healthy food in the Northeast Kingdom, resulting in a stronger local food economy, improved nutrition education in area schools, and Read the full article…
Green Mountain Farm-to-School Giving Day
By on Wednesday, May 9th, 2018 in Green Mountain Farm-to-School. No Comments
Join us in celebrating 10 years of Green Mountain Farm-to-School during our first ever Giving Day on June 1st! Every gift received by June 1st will be doubled, up to $10,000. In just 10 years, GMFTS has grown from a single school garden to a leader in the farm-to-school and local food movement. Imagine what Read the full article…
Reflecting on how farm-to-school thrives despite snow
By on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018 in Farm-to-School. No Comments
During the long winter months, AmeriCorps Farm-to-School Coordinators are hard at work implementing programming in partner schools despite the snow.
AmeriCorps Farm-to-School Coordinators & GMFTS
By on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018 in Farm-to-School. No Comments
Learn more about the AmeriCorps Farm-to-School Coordinators who serve here at Green Mountain Farm-to-School.
Increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables in the NEK
By on Monday, April 2nd, 2018 in Coupon Program. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS), in partnership with the national non-profit, Wholesome Wave, is making fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible to low-income residents of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom through the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Coupon Program.
Green Mountain Farm-to-School Benefit Raffle
By on Monday, January 29th, 2018 in Taste of the Kingdom. No Comments
Enter the Green Mountain Farm-to-School raffle for your chance to win a 2-night stay for 4 people in a Hotel Jay Suite – Lift Tickets, Waterpark, and Climb Time included! HOW TO ENTER THE RAFFLE: Raffle tickets are $5/ticket. Tickets will be sold at the 10th Annual Taste of the Kingdom, online, and by mail. To purchase raffle Read the full article…
GMFTS Welcomes Three New Team Members
By on Wednesday, December 13th, 2017 in Press Release. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) is pleased to welcome three new talented individuals to their staff – Sophie Westover, Jeyna Diallo, and Nick Chmura. Read More…
Serving Up Food, Fun and Education in the Summer
By on Wednesday, October 4th, 2017 in Press Release. No Comments
It’s an August day, 2017, and the children of the Northeast Kingdom(NEK) are enjoying the summer break from school. This particular day happens to be Friday, so The Lunchbox, the food truck of Green Mountain Farm to School (GMFTS) that brings free meals to kids 18 and under, is parked at Pavilion Park Read the full article…
Farm to School in the Northeast Kingdom and Beyond
By on Wednesday, October 4th, 2017 in Press Release. No Comments
October is National Farm to School month and Green Mountain Farm to School (GMFTS) is gearing up! Activities and celebrations are taking place in schools across the state, as Governor Scott signed a declaration on October 2nd to proclaim this month as Vermont’s official Farm to School Month. The benefits of Farm to School are Read the full article…
GMFTS Has a Fresh Plan for Making Coupons More Accessible
By on Wednesday, October 4th, 2017 in Coupon Program, Press Release. No Comments
Vermont has a wealth of farm fresh foods, yet access to affordable, local produce is often not viable for some residents of the Northeast Kingdom (NEK). Low-income individuals and families who depend on 3squaresVT need their food dollars to stretch as far as possible.To address this challenge, Green Mountain Farm to School (GMFTS) will be Read the full article…
Summer Block Party Kicks Off Summer in Newport
By on Tuesday, June 13th, 2017 in Press Release. No Comments
The 4th Annual Summer Block Party will be held at Gardner Park in Newport, Vt. on Thursday, June 22 from 3 PM to 6 PM. The event is free and open to the public.
The afternoon will feature free food for all kids 18-years-old and younger from the Lunchbox food truck, family-friendly games and activities such as dancing and face painting, and a fun-run around the park. The Summer Block Party is hosted by Green Mountain Farm-to-School and Newport Parks and Recreation. Read More…
Fresh, Local, Free – Lunchbox Readies to Serve Summer Lunches
By on Tuesday, April 18th, 2017 in Press Release. No Comments
The Lunchbox food truck will be on the road again for its fifth summer, serving up free meals to kids and fresh, local lunches for three communities in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.
For many kids who participate in free or reduced lunch programs during the school year, the free summer meal is one of their best sources for nutritious food while school is on break. For community members, the Lunchbox is a fresh, local, and delicious lunch option that comes with an added perk – all the proceeds from lunch sales go directly to running the free summer meal program and help to serve even more children. Read More…
Northeast Kingdom Farms Lay Roots in Local Schools, Institutions
By on Saturday, April 1st, 2017 in Press Release. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm Direct, a food hub run by Green Mountain Farm-to-School, is working to connect local farmers with schools, restaurants, and institutions across northern Vermont to increase the farm’s sales and boost consumption of local food in institutions and the overall region. Those partnerships have created a distribution infrastructure in the region that has helped to improve the community’s access to healthy, local food while also growing the local economy. Watch the video…
Green Mountain Farm-to-School Welcomes Two New Team Members
By on Saturday, April 1st, 2017 in Press Release. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm-to-School is pleased to welcome two new talented individuals to their staff – Edifice Jengo and Kendall Lambert. Read More…
Northeast Kingdom Celebrates Local Flavors at Jay Peak
By on Thursday, March 2nd, 2017 in Press Release. No Comments
Guests from throughout the Northeast Kingdom and Canada enjoyed a delicious evening at Jay Peak Resort this past February during Green Mountain Farm-to-School’s 9th Annual Taste of the Kingdom – an event celebrating the vibrant food scene of the Northeast Kingdom. Read More…
Northern Vermont Elementary Schools Dive into Composting
By on Friday, January 13th, 2017 in Press Release. No Comments
School cafeterias across Northern Vermont are closing the food cycle as they lead the way in diverting food scraps from landfills through composting. More than 10 Northeast Kingdom elementary schools that work with Green Mountain Farm-to-School. Read More…
Parsnip Party! Northern Vermont Celebrates Harvest of the Month
By on Friday, January 6th, 2017 in Press Release. No Comments
More than 1,400 pounds of parsnips were delivered across northern Vermont in the beginning of January as schools and businesses prepared to celebrate the Vermont Harvest of the Month – a state-wide education campaign which celebrates a different seasonal and local Vermont product each month. Read More…
Organic Co-op Deeply Rooted in New England Agriculture
By on Monday, January 2nd, 2017 in Press Release. No Comments
Founded in 1986, Deep Root Organic Cooperative is one of the oldest co-ops of organic vegetables growers in the United States. Having evolved into a 23 member farmer-owned cooperative, they source organic produce, year-round, from member farms located throughout northern Vermont and southern Quebec. Read More…
Vermont Farm-to-School Network Launches Legislative Campaign
By on Wednesday, December 14th, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
The Vermont Farm to School Network is launching a campaign to encourage the state Legislature to support $500,000 in funding to expand access to farm to school programs in more Vermont schools. Read More…
GMFTS Welcomes New Executive Director
By on Thursday, November 10th, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) welcomes James Hafferman as their next executive director. He assumed the position in January as founder and current executive director, Katherine Sims, transitioned to the role of development director. Read More…
Smitty’s Farm Dinner Brings Community Together
By on Friday, October 14th, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm-to-School teamed up with Smitty’s Farm in Newport, Vt. to hold a free, On-Farm Community Dinner that was open to the public. The evening featured a dinner that used Vermont seasonal produce and showcased Smitty’s Farm’s berries. Read More…
Meet the GMFTS Team
By on Thursday, October 13th, 2016 in Uncategorized. No Comments
At Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) the beginning of the school year brings with it so many things – the harvest is in full swing, the weather is beginning to change, and the organization is welcoming new and second year AmeriCorps farm-to-school coordinators. Read More…
Green Mountain Farm-to-School Open House Slide Show
By on Tuesday, October 11th, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
On October 1, Green Mountain Farm-to-School opened the doors of the beautifully renovated building they are now renting in the historic downtown Newport. Read More…
GMFTS Office Tour Through Photos
By on Saturday, October 1st, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm-to-School has moved offices! They are renting a beautiful, historic space in downtown Newport. Check out a quick virtual tour below. Read More…
Students Get Fresh for Harvest Festivals
By on Tuesday, September 20th, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
The kids are back in school, the gardens are bursting with the season’s harvest and it is harvest festival time for students across the Northeast Kingdom. Read More…
Gala on the Lake Goes Swimmingly
By on Monday, August 15th, 2016 in Uncategorized. No Comments
Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) hosted its 4th Annual Gala on the Lake in August, raising over $6,500 that will go towards tending school gardens, sourcing local food in the cafeteria, and working to create healthy communities centered around good food. Read More…
Berry Fun at Smitty’s Farm
By on Friday, August 12th, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
Started in 2006, Sharon and Greg “Smitty” Smith, have grown Smitty’s Farm, formerly known as North Derby Organic Berry Farm, from 2,000 berry plants to over 35,000 today Read More…
Lunchbox Drives Up Free Summer Meal Participation
By on Monday, August 1st, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
Good news; Vermont ranks third in the country for serving free summer meals to children. Bad news; Vermont is still only reaching 33.3 percent of the children who qualify for free or reduced lunch during the school year. Read More…
Coupon Program Helps Low-Income NEK Residents
By on Thursday, July 7th, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
The final report for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Coupon Program, compiled by Wholesome Wave based off of information collected by the University of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture, has been released by Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS). Read More…
GMFTS Plants School Gardens Across the Kingdom
By on Tuesday, June 14th, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
For the past three weeks, Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) has been helping schools plant school gardens across the Northeast Kingdom. Between farm-to-school and after-school programs, GMFTS helped to plant over 20 school gardens this spring which the students from the school will then harvest in the fall and be able to eat in their cafeteria. Read More…
The Lunchbox Serves up Free Summer Meals in the NEK
By on Sunday, June 12th, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
The Lunchbox food truck, through Green Mountain Farm-to-School, will be on the road again this season serving free meals to kids 18-years-old and younger and offering food education beginning June 15. Read More…
Fun and Games at the Summer Block Party in Newport
By on Sunday, June 5th, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
The 3rd Annual Summer Block Party in the Kingdom, a free community-wide event, will be held June 16 from 3 PM to 6 PM at Gardner Park in Newport. Kids 18-years-old and younger will be treated to a free meal from the Lunchbox food truck. Read More…
Butterworks Farm: Happy, Organic Soil and Cows
By on Tuesday, May 31st, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
“The way we see the world is because of organic farming,” says Jack Lazor, owner and operator of Butterworks Farm in Westfield, Vt. “Having a relationship with the earth has a huge impact on the way you make decisions; everything from what you eat to how you care for things.” Read More…
Lyndon State College Recognizes Sims for GMFTS Work
By on Tuesday, May 17th, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
Lyndon, Vermont – Katherine Sims was awarded the Presidential Medal of Distinction by Lyndon State College President Joe Bertolino during the college’s commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 15. Sims was honored for her work as founder and executive director of Green Mountain Farm-to-School. Read More…
EatingWell Helps Vermonters Celebrate Harvest of the Month
By on Sunday, April 17th, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
EatingWell, an award-winning national consumer magazine based out of Shelburne, Vt., has teamed up with Green Mountain Farm-to-School and Vermont Harvest of the Month to create and fund easy-to-use recipes and recipe booklets featuring each month’s celebrated harvest that will be used throughout the state to promote healthy, seasonal eating. Read More…
St. Johnsbury Academy Weekly Dinner Celebrates Local Farmers
By on Friday, April 15th, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
It’s Wednesday evening at St. Johnsbury Academy and the cafeteria is set up family-style for the 270 students who are part of the school’s boarding program. This is a special meal that has taken the better part of a week to plan and the Academy’s teachers and other school staff are encouraged to attend as well. Read More…
Derby and Newport Schools Grow Curriculum in School Gardens
By on Friday, April 8th, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
Science teachers from Derby Elementary School (DES) and Newport City Elementary (NCE), along with Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS), came together for last month to begin creating science curriculum that will be taught in the school garden. Read More…
Coupon Program Provides Fresh Produce for Vermonters
By on Wednesday, April 6th, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
In September, Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) began the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Coupon Program, a pilot program that allowed Orleans and Essex county residents participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, 3SquaresVT, to purchase an additional $75 of fresh fruits and vegetables through the end of February. Read More…
The Quiet Sugarers: Kingdom Mountain Maple
By on Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
Dan and Kim Backus live nestled into the foothills of the Green Mountains in Westfield, Vt., surrounded by mostly forest. They raise beef cows and grow hay in their open pastures, they cut firewood and sawlogs, and they produce a little bit of honey. Aside from Kim’s culinary prose as kitchen manager for Craftsbury Outdoor Center, the Backus’ are known in the Northeast Kingdom for something Dan has been doing for three decades – sugaring. Read More…
Coventry Chefs Compete in Culinary Cook-off for Kids
By on Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016 in Press Release. No Comments
Coventry, Vermont – A mix of delicious aromas filled the air of the Champlain Valley Exposition Center on Saturday, March 19, as over 50 teams of middle school and high school students competed in the Jr. Iron Chef competition run by Vermont Food Education Every Day (FEED). Plates of locally sourced, vegetarian dishes were being chopped, sautéed, and baked into existence by students, as young as sixth grade, that had spent weeks practicing and perfecting their culinary skills.