Farm to School Lead

Kelly Erwin, Director, Massachusetts Farm to School Project

Key Partner Organizations

Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources; Mass. Farm Bureau Federation; American Farmland Trust; Berkshire Grown; Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture; Farm to Preschool and Families; Fertile Ground; Mass. Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education; Mass. Fruit Growers Association; Mass. Public Health Association; Mass. School Nutrition Association; National Farm to School Northeast Regional Steering Committee; Project Bread; Real Food Challenge; Seeds of Solidarity Education Center; Southeastern Mass. Agricultural Partnership; The Food Project; and USDA.

Funding Sources

Claneil Foundation, Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources, Next Door Fund, Project Bread,

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, Partners for a Healthier Community, USDA Specialty Crops

Massachusetts Farm to School Focus

Since 2004, our grassroots initiative has facilitated sustainable purchasing relationships between Massachusetts farms and school food service providers. Our goal is to increase consumption of locally grown food for the good of our children, our farms, the state economy, and the environment. With stalwart support from MDAR, the Project:

• Offers farm‐to‐institution “matchmaking” to farms, public school food services, other institutional food services, and food distributors
• Coordinates an annual Mass. Harvest for Students Week and distributes promotional materials for farm and food service use
• Provides data to educators, organizations and government officials and serves as an information hub, making referrals to other farm‐to‐school groups
• Engages in annual research on the status of farm to institution‐related sales.

Farm to Institution Highlights

In 2011, 217 school districts, representing more than half the students enrolled in public schools in Mass., reported they preferentially purchased locally grown foods.  And, 81 private schools and colleges reported the same.  Finally, 110 farms across the state sold their products, including fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy, wheat, honey, and maple syrup directly to one or more institution.

Contact Information

Kelly Erwin, (413) 253‐3844 or info@massfarmtoschool.org