Maine
Farm to School News
April 2020
The Northeast Farm-to-School Collaborative has teamed up to collect stories and photos of how # CommunitiesFeedKids  in this pandemic.

Communities are responding to COVID-19 with incredible generosity and ingenuity, recognizing the necessity of school meal programs and the connection to healthy and local food. Celebrate your community by sharing a story on your favorite social media platform (or share these Facebook  and  Instagram  posts to get started). Tag your town, community, state or district - use # CommunitiesFeedKids  

Tag @MaineFarmToSchoolNetwork on Facebook to share your Maine story!
Farm to School COVID-19 Resources
This is an incredibly challenging time for schools and farms, and now more than ever is the time to be supporting both. Explore the Extension map listed below to find a local farm that will deliver to you, contact your local school district to see if there is anything you can do to support them at this time, and if you are a school, connect with your local growers to let them know if you will be purchasing local over the summer, in the fall, and onward. We need to continue our partnerships to sustain a vibrant local food system.

Gardening and Growing


  • check out which events have shifted to virtual or been postponed

  • for farmers and others to share what is happening on their farm, what is working well, and what isn’t working well.

  • ask your gardening questions to Master Gardener experts!

  • share garden space or find garden space to use

  • how to practice social distancing in the school or community garden

It is National Garden Month!: ideas for celebration

School Food


  • Webinar Tuesday April 21, 2:00-3:00 pm

  • Find farms and seafood products available now





Slow Fish Webinar: Resiliency Among our New England Fisherfolk Communities
  • Apr 17, 2020 01:00 PM

Teaching and Learning

For teachers or students learning at home, find great resources through Maine Ag in the Classroom:

  • see "remote learning for students"

  • Thursday, April 12, 2020 2:00-3:00 pm
  • be sure to check out the rest of their webinar offerings




Funding Opportunities

  • GENYOUth is providing grants of up to $3,000 per school to supply much-needed resources for meal distribution and delivery efforts

  • funding through Food Fuels Learning for Portland Public School Nutrition Programs

  • learn how Maine Farmers can utilize the Paycheck Protection Program

  • for organizations doing food or environmental work

Carton to Garden Contest Deadline Extended: applications now accepted through May 1

In the News: Local Food and COVID-19







Maine Farm to School Network Awarded NEGEF Seed Grant

To support discussions and trainings for our network on equity in farm to school. Stay tuned for more information and upcoming opportunities.
Thank you to the MFSN members that participated in the 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge discussions. We had rich conversations and will be integrating our learning into our farm to school work.

In its sixth year, the Challenge is a great way to learn about the history and impacts of racism on our current food system while inspiring participants with resources and tools to build racial equity into their food systems work.
Highlights from the 2019 Farm to Institution
Innovation Grant Awardees
Hydroponically grown produce to supply RSU 39 School Cafeterias at Caribou Tech Center: Check out their setup!
Learn more about hydroponics: contact Scott Moir and Tracy Corbin at Caribou Tech
Houlton Schools and Southern Aroostook Soil & Water Conservation District
Learn more about virtual farm to school nutrition education: connect with Angela Wotton, Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District
Explore where eggs come from with Angie, and learn a healthy egg-based snack recipe!


Contact Robin Kerber to learn more about participating in Harvest of the Month
Share your Harvest of the Month photos & stories on Instagram @hom.maine #mainehom


National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
New Date Announcement: April 27-19, 2021
Albuquerque, New Mexico