Improving Child Nutrition and Increasing Local Foods at School
February 2010

Farm 2 Schools Quilt

In 2009, the Burlington Schools Food Service continued its commitment to transform school food, improving child nutrition and supporting regional food producers to invest in our local economy and help build a sustainable food system. After six active years, we continue to be a core partner in the Burlington School Food Project, a Farm to School program that connects students and their families with whole, fresh and local foods to improve the health of our community. Our partners include: Burlington Legacy Project, Shelburne Farms Sustainable Schools Project, City Market, Healthy City Youth Initiative, Friends of Burlington Gardens, VT-FEED (Food Education Every Day), and community volunteers. We have:

  • Purchased over $50,000 worth of locally produced foods directly from producers.
  • Provided local food from 19 different farms and food producers including: Arethusa Collective Farm, Cabot Creamery, Champlain Orchards, Charlotte Berry Farm, Diggers' Mirth Collective Farm, Healthy City Youth Farm, Intervale Community Farm, Koffee Kup Bakery, Lewis Creek Farm, Misty Knoll Farm, Norris Berry Farm, O'Bread, Paul Mazza's, Red Hen Baking Company, Sam Mazza's, Shelburne Farms, Stonyfield Farms, The Farm at South Village, Vermont Hydroponic Produce.
  • Added local Red Hen bread at two of our schools through a partnership with Red Hen Baking Co. where employees can purchase a weekly bread share which brings in revenue to provide the breads as part of school lunch.
  • Teamed up with Shelburne Farms and O'Bread to develop a new breakfast item: a cheddar cheese roll. Add a Champlain Orchards' apple and you've got an all Vermont breakfast.
  • Organized the 3rd Annual Jr. Iron Chef Vermont event on March 27th, 2010, in partnership with VT-FEED. Over 200 middle and high school students from across Vermont participate in this event annually, creating dishes using locally produced foods that we could offer in our schools.

    • Read more about Burlington School Food Service