Overview

Explore the tabs on the left to learn about Farm to School in Connecticut! For any questions or suggestions reach out to Cyrena Thibodeau at Cyrena.Thibodeau@ct.gov or 860-895-3094.

Farm-to-school enriches communities' connection with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and early care and education sites.

Students gain access to healthy, local foods and education opportunities such as school gardens, cooking lessons, and farm field trips. Farm to school empowers children and their families to make informed food choices while strengthening the local economy and contributing to vibrant communities.

Farm-to-school implementation differs by location but always includes one or more of the following known as the 3 C’s:

Source: Image from Food Connects 

Why farm to school?

Kids WIN
Farm to school provides all kids access to nutritious, high-quality, local food so they are ready to learn and grow. Farm-to-school activities enhance classroom education through hands-on learning related to food, health, agriculture, and nutrition.

Farmers WIN
Farm to school can be a significant financial opportunity for farmers, fishers, ranchers, food processors, and food manufacturers by opening the doors to an institutional market worth billions of dollars in sales.

Communities WIN
Farm-to-school benefits everyone from students, teachers, and administrators to parents and farmers, providing opportunities to build family and community engagement. Buying from local producers and processors creates new jobs and strengthens the local economy.

CT Department of Agriculture is a proud partner of the CT Farm to School Collaborative, a network of people working on and engaging with Farm to School in the state. Check out their website and sign up for the listserv on the homepage to stay informed!


Farm to school statute