News

  • October 27, 2023

    Webinar: Unlocking Opportunities for the 30% NYS Farm to School Initiative

    Join American Farmland Trust (AFT) and National Farm to School Network (NFSN) for a presentation regarding insights and advocacy around New York State’s 30% Initiative for New York’s farm to school local food purchasing incentive program.

  • August 21, 2023

    Bringing Farm Fresh Local Foods into School Cafeterias

    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. Listen to live coverage of the 2023 Institute Retreat from the Sanctuary for Independent Media and Hudson Mohawk Magazine!

  • May 30, 2023

    Announcing the 2023-2024 New York Farm to School Institute Schools!

    Farm to Institution New York State (FINYS) is excited to announce the new school team cohort for the 2023-2024 New York Farm to School Institute!

  • March 10, 2023

    New York Farm to School Institute Seeks School Teams for Fifth Cohort

    The New York Farm to School Institute, a year-long professional development opportunity for school teams to develop and refine their Farm to School programs, is seeking applicants for its fifth cohort.

  • November 8, 2022

    Livestream Nov. 10th: Beefing Up Farm to School in New York

    We've been told beef is "what's for dinner," but it also has a special place on the public plate. Nutritionally, beef packs a punch with iron, numerous vitamins, and protein; and beef provides important income for over 5,000 family farms across New York. In this Free Range Conversations™ event with American Farmland Trust, you’ll learn about what AFT and the Farm to Institution New York State (FINYS) team is doing to support more New York grown and raised food in schools, including local beef!

  • October 26, 2022

    October Updates from FINYS

    The Farm to School Month edition of the FINYS newsletter highlighting program updates from FINYS and upcoming events!

  • July 29, 2022

    July Updates from FINYS

    The July FINYS newsletter featuring a reflection on the 2022 New York Farm to School Institute Summer Retreat and more!

  • May 24, 2022

    Celebrating Asian American and Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM)

    May is Asian American and Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), where we recognize, celebrate, and honor the contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and embrace AAPI communities that have enriched our country for generations. Asian Americans have played, and continue to play, an important role in shaping farming and food culture in America. Their contributions to the American agricultural and culinary landscape are reflected in our farms and on our plates today.

  • May 23, 2022

    Buffalo Food Justice Advocates and Partners Call for End to White Supremacy and Anti-Blackness

    No one should lose or fear for their life, especially while shopping for food. We want to call out and condemn the white supremacist terrorist attack in Buffalo on May 14th, a direct attack on Black and Brown communities in Buffalo. Our FINYS team extends support, love, and care, and stands with the Buffalo community, our many partners in the region, and all those who were impacted by this act of hatred. This violence demonstrates why it is so necessary to incorporate antiracist language and programming into our work, not only because it occurred in a grocery store, the heart of any community, but also because the history of racism and anti-Blackness is interwoven with the food system in the United States in many ways. To read more about the ways in which this tragedy is directly connected to our local food systems and communities, please see the Buffalo Food Justice Advocates and Partners Call For End to White Supremacy and Anti-Blackness.

  • May 23, 2022

    May Updates from FINYS

    The May FINYS newsletter featuring farm to institution news, resources, and stories!

  • May 20, 2022

    Announcing the 2022-2023 New York Farm to School Institute Schools!

    Farm to Institution New York State (FINYS) is excited to announce the new school team cohort for the 2022-2023 New York Farm to School Institute!

  • October 27, 2021

    Announcing the 2021-2022 New York Farm to School Institute Cohort!

    As we celebrate National Farm to School Month this October – we’re excited to announce the new cohort of schools joining the New York Farm to School Institute!  

  • October 13, 2020

    Kicking Off a New Year of the New York State Farm to School Institute

    Recapping the start of the 2020-2021 New York State Farm to School Institute which featured a virtual kickoff retreat

  • August 13, 2020

    Announcing the 2020-2021 NYS Farm to School Institute

    Announcing the selection of twelve schools to the 2020-2021 New York State Farm to School Institute, an intensive year-long program for New York schools to develop and grow their farm to school programs.

  • July 8, 2020

    July FINYS Update

    Announcing the 2020-2021 NYS Farm to School Institute, Statement of Solidarity & Resource List, Upcoming Virtual Events & more!

  • May 6, 2020

    Sprouting Community Strength in Times of Crisis through Local Food

    A note from Stephanie Hsu reflecting on the unprecedented challenges COVID-19 has created for our schools and food systems, the continued importance of eating locally and examples of resiliency. 

  • August 1, 2019

    Record-breaking USDA Farm to School Funding, Schools Selected for NYS Farm to School Institute, and more!

    NYS Farm to School Institute, USDA Farm to School Grants, the Farm to School Act of 2019, and more in the FINYS July Update!

  • May 21, 2019

    Grape News for New York Schools!

    Grape-to-School Pilot Program launches across New York schools, New York Farm to School webinar, career opportunities, and more in the FINYS May Update!

  • May 21, 2019

    Grape-to-School Pilot Program Brings Concord Grape Juice to New York Schools

    Earlier this month, American Farmland Trust, as part of the collaborative initiative Farm to Institution New York State, joined students, teachers, and other staff at Armor Elementary School in Hamburg Central School District for a special New York Thursdays lunch. Hamburg is one of ten school districts across the state featuring a taste test of New York State Grown & Certified Concord Grape Juice this spring as part of the Grape-to-School Pilot Program.

  • April 24, 2019

    Buffalo's Board of Education Awards Food Bids to Local Farmers and Small Food Producers

    Buffalo Public Schools takes major leap in increasing purchasing of New York grown food to feed over 30,000 students, awarding $1,113,537 to food-related bids to local farmers and small food producers.

  • December 19, 2018

    Farm to School Institute New York Schools Gather in the Hudson Valley

    Following the Northeast Farm to School Institute, four New York school teams gathered in the Hudson Valley to share progress on their action plans and tour the Hudson Valley Farm Hub with FINYS.