1. BUILDING RURAL HEALTH AND SUPPORTING SMALL SCALE AGRICULTURE:
A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY OF
FARM-TO-SCHOOL ACTIVITY IN MAINE AND NOVA SCOTIA
Chloe Kennedy
Rural Research Centre
Nova Scotia Agricultural College
Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
ch738649@DAL.CA
Abstract
Focusing on a rural community in Colchester County, Nova Scotia, this research examines the
Atlantic Canadian context for farm-to-school programs, gauging interest and attitudes and
examining current barriers which prevent more locally grown food from being served in the
school cafeteria.1 A major component of this research is a comparative case study using a
successful American farm-to-school program in Hancock County, Maine. By way of comparative
study, this research examines how stronger farm-school partnerships can be developed in
Atlantic Canada. Results in Nova Scotia indicate financial and structural barriers, as well as a
number of community assets, including a strong belief on the part of relevant stakeholders that
farm-to-school programs have the potential to increase student health and foster economic well
being for farmers. This paper puts forth recommendations and strategies for expanding farm-to-
school programs in Nova Scotia based on results from the comparative case study.
1
This paper was part of a panel that discussed the policy issues around the changing rural and agricultural context in
eastern Canada, through three papers generated from the Rural Research Centre’s (RRC’s) programme, Changing
Paradigms in Agriculture, an initiative funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSRHC) of
Canada.