Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics

Farm to school (FTS) programs across the State of Connecticut connect schools with fresh, local food producers. Using local procurement, school gardens, and education, these programs benefit both local producers and nutrition programs.

• Since 2006 CT has operated a farm to school program through the Departments of Education and Agriculture, including support for local purchasing and implementation of events such as Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids week. The Department of Agriculture also runs the CT Grown for CT Kids Grant which provides funding to support farm to school programming.
• UConn Extension's Put Local on Your Tray connects schools with local farms through programs including their Farm to School Directory
• The Connecticut Farm to School Collaborative connects state agencies, non-profits, and professional organizations to support FTS efforts across CT

The National Farm to School Network found that farm to school programs benefit both students and their local communities. These include increases in school meal participation, access to fresh fruits and vegetables, dollars spent in the local economy, and overall academic achievement in K-12.

CT SFAs that completed the 2019 USDA Farm to School Census highlighted benefits of:

• Higher Quality Foods
• Student Knowledge About Local and Healthy Foods
• Increased Kitchen Staff Satisfaction
• Increased Food Cooked from Scratch
• Increased Consumption of Items in School Meals
• Reduced Food Waste
• Increased Participation in School Meals