Maine
Farm to School News
September 2019
2019 Maine Farm to School Conference
Announcing the Conference Agenda!
Innovations in Farm to School
October 4, 2019 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Kennebec Valley Community College Alfond Campus
Registration Still Open!
Conference Keynote: How do we know when our Farm to School Innovations have been successful? When Farm to School is no longer an innovation but is fully integrated as part of everyday operations.

Learn how Minneapolis Public Schools has weaved local procurement into all aspects of their programming - from forward contracting to farmer training, classroom education, seasonal menu development, community engagement and school gardens. Over 20% of their produce purchases come from small to mid-size farms that are committed to organic practices. Even with a short growing season similar to Maine, Minneapolis features local products on their menus all year long. Learn more about Bertrand's decades of work in school food!

Additional sponsors include:
USDA Farm to School Grant Program
Maine Department of Education
Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council
Fedco Seeds
Farm to Institution New England
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
FREE Local Food Procurement Pre-Conference Training
Thursday October 3, 2019 1-4 pm
Kennebec Valley Community College, Alfond Campus

Join USDA Procurement Specialist Martine Cherry and Abbie Nelson, Farm to School Specialist from NOFA-VT for a fun, interactive afternoon of digging into local food procurement rules and guidelines – which are different from regular procurement guidelines and are part of the procurement review.

This free 3-hour training, sponsored by the Maine Farm to School Network and supported by a USDA Farm to School Training Grant, will explore topics like micro purchasing, informal bid process, Buy American provision, minimum purchasing thresholds, values-based buying, and the importance of relationship building with food producers. Participants will learn how to apply strategies to make the most of marketing tools like Maine Harvest of the Month and reimbursement opportunities like the Local Produce Fund to either start a local purchasing strategy or take it to the next level.

Even if you think you have heard it all before or already know all there is to know about local procurement, we guarantee you will learn something new, take away new tools and resources, or at the very least, have a great time networking with your colleagues! This professional development opportunity will be hands-on and engaging, and qualify for 3 contact hours. A limited number of scholarships are available to support costs associated with attending the training (travel, substitutes). 

This workshop is supported by the USDA Farm to School Grant Program .
Fun Facts About our
Conference Venue:

We will be at  Kennebec Valley Community College, Alfond Campus  in Hinckley (sometimes comes up as Clinton), NOT the Fairfield campus. KVCC is on the grounds of  Good Will-Hinckley . 

The  Alfond  family started Dexter Shoe Company and is one of Maine's most philanthropic families. Good Will-Hinckley began as a sprawling 100 plus year-old residential school for disadvantaged children that has been a working farm and is home to the L.C. Bates Museum and the  Maine Academy of Natural Sciences . The Alfonds purchased some of the property to build the KVCC campus that is home to Maine's first Community College Ag Program.

We held our 2015 Farm to School Conference here and it is a fitting location with all of its rich agricultural history!
If you are interested in a reduced rate hotel ($89/night) in our hotel block at Best Western Plus Waterville Grand Hotel , call them at 207-873-0111 and let them know you are with the Maine Farm to School Conference October 3-4.
Contact Stephanie at s.cesario@hccame.org if you have questions.
Share your Harvest of the Month photos & stories on Instagram @hom.maine #mainehom



September is Maine Tomatoes Month ! There are 80 summer meal sites signed up: schools, non-profits, and residential camps.

Contact Jenn So to learn more about participating in Harvest of the Month!
Michelle Erhard, Development Director at MSGN
MFSN Leadership Council Member Highlight:
Michelle Erhard
Maine School Garden Network (MSGN)

" I advocate for Farm to School because I believe everyone should have access to healthy, fresh food, and schools are the prime places to feed children’s appetites for knowledge  and  food. 

Some of my favorite local foods are Belfast Co-Op’s orange ginger tofu; and Sea Dog Biscuits at Hadlock Field! 
A little bit about me: Since I was a child, I’ve been exposed to diet-related illnesses in my family and, because of this, feel so strongly about developing healthy habits at an early age. Integrating school gardens into classroom instruction provides hands-on learning opportunities with curricular connections, but also introduces healthy foods and habits!

One of the exciting farm to school projects I am involved in is coaching the Connors Elementary School team through the 2019-2020 NE Farm to School Institute . Beyond my work with the Maine School Garden Network I'm also involved in Farm to Preschool projects and am a FoodCorps Maine Alumna '15!
Partner News and Opportunities

State of Maine

  • MOFGA is co-hosting a few fun educational events for youth and families:
  1. Cider Camp September 14-15th
  2. Insect Camp September 6-7th
  3. Common Ground Country Fair - Free Admission for Schools on Friday!



  • Registration Now Open for the 2019 Let's Go! School Symposium Learn more here.

Regional + National

  • Open House at NEW Maine Dept. of Education Culinary Classroom, Sept. 10 1-4 pm, details here.


  • SeedMoney Garden Grants now accepting applications for school and other types of community gardens, until November 12. Learn more here.


  • Get Schools Cooking Grant Applications Open! A program of Chef Ann Foundation, this funding provides school districts with the operational foundation to transition their Food & Nutrition Service Departments from a heat & serve model to one that is rooted in scratch cooking. Learn more here. 

  • Child Nutrition Reauthorization bills to follow-- Learn more and join MFSN in Taking Action
  1. The Farm to School Act of 2019 would increase funding for the USDA's Farm to School Grant Program;
  2. The School Food Modernization Act, legislation to help update school kitchens with new equipment;
  3. The Kids Eat Local Act supports local sourcing of school food, and is co-sponsored by Maine's Senator Collins and Representative Pingree.


September Recipe Highlight:
What to do with all those fresh tomatoes coming in from your school's garden or local farm?

Tomato Soup!
You’ll need an immersion blender or blender to puree this soup so it’s smooth. The flavor comes from the tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and other veggies, so there’s no need for milk or cream here. Serve this with a grilled cheese sandwich.

YIELD: 100 SERVINGS (K–5) SERVING SIZE: 1 CUP
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large onions, diced
4½ cups diced celery (1 bunch or 1¼ pounds)
10 cups diced carrots (3¼ pounds)
1½ cups minced garlic
¾ cup Worcestershire sauce
15 tablespoons chicken base
3¼ gallons water (52 cups)
20 lbs fresh, diced tomatoes or 2 #10 cans
3 tablespoons dried basil
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon salt & 1 tablespoon pepper 

Sauté the veggies and garlic in oil until tender. Add the stock and the Worcestershire sauce. Let cook 1 to 2 minutes, and then add the tomatoes. When the soup is warm and starting to bubble, add the sugar and spices. Cook until carrots are soft. Blend by small amounts in an immersion blender.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION CALORIES: 56; SODIUM: 477.01 MG; SATURATED FAT: 6.53% USDA REQUIREMENTS MET 3 /8 CUP RED OR ORANGE VEGETABLE 

Do you have Maine Farm to School news, events, and opportunities to share? Please contact us and we will share & highlight your news!

Building a communication and coordination infrastructure at the school and community level to support farm to school programs throughout Maine.

EDUCATION + PROCUREMENT + SCHOOL GARDENS