New York Farm to School Institute

About the New York Farm to School Institute

The New York Farm to School Institute is a year-long professional development opportunity for food service staff, educators, administrators, and community partners in New York schools to develop and refine their Farm to School programs, and to help bring more New York grown food into the cafeteria and classroom. This ongoing training and educational program will assist participating schools in creating successful Farm to School programs and connecting with farmers. Upon completion of the Institute, schools become alumni members of a NY Farm to School Institute Network – continuing to share best practices and resources with others championing farm to school for years to come.

Our program offers a direct opportunity to improve the health of students and strengthen the agricultural economy by bringing farm fresh local foods into school cafeterias statewide. Key features of the NY Farm to School Institute include:

  • A two-day kickoff retreat in August 2024 at the Mabee Farm Historic Site in Rotterdam Junction, NY
  • Bi-monthly workshops for school teams
  • A Farm to School action plan development and implementation award
  • Coaching and peer networking for one year
  • A celebratory Spring 2025 gathering in the Hudson Valley
Group of people sitting in a circle in conversation

Questions?

Contact the FINYS team at [email protected] or 518-581-0078 for additional information or further questions about FINYS or the NY Farm to School Institute. 

Read the transcript of our 2022 Informational Webinar

The New York State Farm to School Institute is a project of Farm to Institution New York State (FINYS), a collaborative initiative led by American Farmland Trust.