Farm to School in Hancock County

Project Overview

CNE06-012
Project Type: Sustainable Community Innovation
Funds awarded in 2006: $9,965.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2007
Matching Non-Federal Funds: $5,619.00
Region: Northeast
State: Maine
Project Leader:
Doug Michael
Healthy Acadia Coalition
Co-Leaders:
Heather Albert-Knopp
Email
Healthy Acadia Coalition

Annual Reports

Commodities

  • Agronomic: potatoes
  • Fruits: apples, berries (other)
  • Vegetables: beets, cabbages, carrots, greens (leafy), parsnips, rutabagas, turnips
  • Additional Plants: herbs
  • Animals: fish, shellfish

Practices

  • Education and Training: technical assistance
  • Sustainable Communities: infrastructure analysis, new business opportunities, partnerships, public participation, community development

    Proposal abstract:

    The Healthy Acadia Coalition seeks funding to establish Farm to School programs in Hancock County, Maine. Farm to School programs build connections between farms and schools through regular school purchases of locally grown foods. Farm to School connections help to increase year-round farmer income, establish new markets for growers and improve the health of school children. Between April 2006 and April 2007, Healthy Acadia will work directly with three to four local schools to establish new purchasing relationships with local growers. The experience will be publicized and shared via newspaper, radio, professional journals as well as statewide networks to expand Farm-to-School projects to other communities across Maine.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    Healthy Acadia proposes to work directly with the schools, farmers, and community health coalitions who have expressed interest in developing Farm to School initiatives. We will convene partners, help to initiate and sustain connections, and provide the technical assistance and resources that farms and schools need to implement these initiatives. By focusing on three to four pilot projects in communities where interest has been expressed, we will develop successful and inspiring models that can be implemented in schools, hospitals, and other institutions here in Hancock County and throughout Maine.

    Winter 2005- 2006 (pre-grant):
    -Identify 3-4 pilot sites and interested farmers through one-on-one follow up with workshop participants

    Spring 2006:
    -Convene meetings and planning conversations between farmers, schools, and other partners
    -Provide needed resources and technical assistance to farms, schools, and others

    Fall 2006:
    -3-4 pilot schools begin purchasing food from local farms
    -Ongoing troubleshooting, technical assistance, trainings
    -Begin implementation of outreach plan

    Winter/Spring 2006-2007:
    -Implement project evaluation
    -Develop and distribute Farm to School informational publication
    -Action planning for 2007-2008, including possible expansion to hospitals and other institutions

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.