Press Contact
Shane Rogers
Communications, Outreach, and Development Associate
srogers@gmfts.org | 802-334-2044
For Immediate Release
Lyndon State College Recognizes Sims for GMFTS Work
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 (GMFTS), a nonprofit in Newport, Vt. that is working to connect farms, schools, and communities through food and education.
“It’s an honor to receive the Presidential Medal of Distinction from Lyndon State College,” says Sims, “I have had the pleasure of working with so many great people, organizations, and institutions and I look forward to continuing working to make our region and state the best it can be.”
The award was created in 2013 by Bertolino and it “honors a prominent individual or organization who has contributed significantly to Lyndon State College, the Northeast Kingdom community, and the State of Vermont.” Sims’ GMFTS works with the Lyndon Economic opportunity AmeriCorps Program (LEAP), which is supported by SerVermont and hosted at Lyndon State College. Five LEAP AmeriCorps members currently serve as farm-to-school coordinators with GMFTS in 27 Northeast Kingdom schools providing nutrition and agriculture education, planting schools gardens, and working to source local food in the cafeteria.
“Working with LEAP has made it possible for Green Mountain Farm-to-School to effect so many students and communities in healthy and positive ways,” says Sims, “I am grateful for Lyndon State College’s commitment to the program and the betterment of our region.”
GMFTS also runs a regional food hub, Green Mountain Farm Direct, which distributed over $350k worth of local food from 40 Vermont farms to over 130 schools, restaurants, and institutions and operates the Lunchbox food truck, a summer meal program and mobile learning kitchen, which provides kids with free, healthy, and local lunches in the summer. The organization also leads a state-wide educational effort, Vermont Harvest of the Month, which provides ready-to-go curriculum and materials focused on seasonal, Vermont produce.
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Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) is a non-profit organization in Newport, Vt. that strengthens local food systems by promoting positive economic and educational relationships between schools, farms, and communities. GMFTS supplies fresh, local food to schools and institutions and gives students of all ages the knowledge and skills they need to make healthy food choice through school gardens, farm-to-school programs, a regional food hub, and mobile learning kitchen. For more information, visit www.greenmountainfarmtoschool.org or call 802-334-2044.
