Farm to School
Farm-to-school (F2S) enriches the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food & local food producers by changing food purchasing & education practices at schools. F2S empowers children & their families to make informed food choices while strengthening the local economy & contributing to vibrant communities.
Vernon Public School Values:
Through F2S initiatives, we empower students to develop healthy eating habits by purchasing fresh food from local farms to serve in the cafeteria and by strengthening nutrition education in the classroom. By partnering with local farms, we increase students’ food literacy and connection to the land, their environment and community.
Vernon's Farm to School Goals
Goal 1: Empower students and staff to cultivate healthy eating habits by integrating locally-sourced foods and recipes into both classroom education and the school meal program.
Goal 2: Develop and foster a F2S Team with the intent to create & execute a yearly action plan for schools that strengthen Vernon’s capacity to impact classrooms, cafeterias, & communities with change that lasts.
Goal 3: Engage schools and the community through consistent communication and outreach efforts with the intent to increase student participation and parent awareness.
Meet Our District Chef!
Vernon Public Schools is thrilled to welcome Chef Tom to our district through the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Chefs to Schools Grant. With more than 20 years of culinary experience, from fine dining to school food service, Chef Tom brings a wealth of knowledge, creativity, and passion to our cafeterias.
Working alongside our Food & Nutrition Services team, Chef Tom will:
Create fresh, scratch-cooked meals that students love.
Highlight seasonal fruits and vegetables from local farms.
Share new recipes and cooking techniques with staff and students.
Make healthy eating fun, delicious, and exciting in our schools.
The Chefs to Schools position is a grant-funded project supported by the Connecticut State Department of Education.
Local Food Resources
CT NOFA Local Farm & Food Map
Healthy PlanEat
Crop Availability Calendar
Farmers Market Nutrition Program
F2S Recipes
Apple Pie Granola
Chinese Cucumber Salad
Chopped Kale Salad
Overnight Oats
Pear Vinaigrette
Pumpkin Puree & Pumpkin Seeds
Roasted Root Vegetables
Sofrito
Sofrito Black Beans
Spinach Pesto (nut-free)
Summer Tomato Salad
Quarterly Reports
School Year 2024/25
Quarter 1 Report (Sep - Dec 2023)
Quarter 2 Report (Jan - Mar 2024)
School Year 2023/24:
Quarter 1 Report (Sep - Dec 2023)
Quarter 2 Report (Jan - Mar 2024)
Quarter 3 Report (Apr - June 2024)
Quarter 4 Report (Jul - Aug 2024)