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.