Learning Building the Farm to School Network

The MA Fam to School Network hosted the first annual public Stakeholder Gathering on May 10 in Worcester, MA. Farm to school advocates from across the Commonwealth joined together to contribute to a shared vision for the MA farm to school movement, identify priority goals for the next year of work together, and share how this network can best serve this community.

More than 50 attendees joined in for the Gathering. Together, the group discussed the connections between racial equity and the food system and discussed strategies for ensuring all students can be represented in farm to school programs. Then, attendees broke into small groups to discuss project ideas the Network could tackle within the next year. Topics fell under the categories of: school gardens; classroom and curricular connections; local food production, distribution, preparation and promotion; policy; and community engagement and partnerships. 

Now that the Gathering has passed, Network Working Groups are exploring and digging deeper into project ideas raised at the event, such as developing classroom materials to supplement the Harvest of the Month Materials, and organizing a local food buyers collaborative. All are invited to get involved in MA Farm to School Network Working Groups and lend a hand to collaborative farm to school projects. Learn more and sign up to receive email communications here.