The Farm-to-School Program is a statewide program designed to encourage the use of Connecticut Grown fresh fruits and vegetables, protein, and milk products in your schools’ cafeteria meals and snacks.  Please take the time to read the statutory reference regarding farm to school . This project is twofold:  to develop new markets for local farms; and, to offer fresher, local produce for your school's lunch program.  Getting locally grown products into school cafeterias is a win-win situation for you and your school kids! It will meet newest guidelines to improve children’s health and nutrition while also increasing marketing opportunities and income for our Connecticut farmers. The alarming upswing in childhood and adult obesity rates affect health care costs for us all as taxpayers in Connecticut. Eating healthier lunches and snacks at school is one way to improve the diets of our young people--and helps to preserve farms while stabilizing the local food supply. 

A connection to the food system through the promotion of local food and the people that grow it can be used to make kids more interested in learning and living a healthier lifestyle, including the consumption of more Connecticut Grown fresh fruits and vegetables!   We now have colorful Farm to School Point of Sale signage for participating schools.

We continue to work with other state agencies such as Connecticut State Department of Education- School Nutrition Programs and their Farm to School Program, the CT Dept of Administrative Services Procurement Programs, Know Your Farmer Know Your Food and management of the DoD Fresh and Commodities Program, CT Dept of  Public Health, as well as other organizations like the USDA Farm to School, EndHunger CT!, the CT Food Policy Council, CT Ag in the Classroom, Start With Half a Cup, the CT FoodCorps Members, the CT Apple Marketing Board, Food Land and People, among others.

The Farm-to-School Program at the Connecticut Department of Agriculture would like to thank those of you already in the program. For those non-participating schools we encourage you to contact us at 860-713-2503and begin participation in the Farm-to School Program!