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HISTORY
The New Jersey Farm to School Network was founded in 2008 to provide a statewide resource for farm to school programs.

We work with schools, farmers, distributors, advocates, food service professionals, state agencies and others in New Jersey to improve school lunches and provide nutrition education through school garden programs.

In May 2010, the Network received 501c3 status.

Since August 2008, the Network has:

  • Hosted a statewide farm to school conference in April 2009
  • Created an online resource for farm to school programs
  • Collaborated on initiatives that include participation in Sustainable Jersey, Shaping NJ and NJ Action for Healthy Kids
  • Coordinated five onsite, regional school garden trainings in 2010 and 2011 in school gardens across the state
  • Convened a statewide distribution and supply chain forum with the New Jersey Farm Bureau in February 2011

AWARENESS
The New Jersey Farm to School Network provides NJ schools with on-going coordination of farm to school activities that promote the health and well-being of students, farms and communities.

Our program goals are to increase locally grown food in cafeterias by coordinating local food purchasing through existing produce distributors, auctions and farms and to provide an online directory of entities willing to sell to K-12 schools in NJ.

COLLABORATION
Our support for New Jersey farmers includes coordination with the NJ Farm Bureau to produce a regional, seasonality chart listing all of New Jersey’s fruits and vegetables and to organize yearly statewide conferences and trainings to promote farm to school programs in K-12 schools.

CURRICULUM
In addition, we will continue to promote school garden programs throughout NJ’s schools and help to provide resources to all schools looking for assistance.

New Jersey has school garden programs in rural, suburban and urban communities across the state.

POLICY
The work of the organization will be on building partnerships and collaborations and designing programs that further the organization’s mission.

In the event that there is relevant legislation or policy to be addressed, the organization devotes limited staff time and resources to educate its constituents about the bill or policy.

Download the complete Sponsorship Kit here (24MB).