How can collaborative networks and innovative partnerships support farm to school? And how can communities build those partnerships and networks? On this webinar we will hear from Peter Allison, network director for Farm to Institution New England (FINE.) FINE is a six-state network of non-profit, public and private entities working collaboratively to strengthen their food system by increasing the amount of New England-grown and processed food served in the region’s schools, hospitals, colleges and other institutions.

1. BUILDING COMMUNITY CAPACITY & REGIONAL
COLLABORATIONS FOR FARM TO SCHOOL
Peter Allison, FINE Network Director
Dec. 9th 1 pm | NFSN Webinar

2. BACKGROUND &
STRATEGIES
I. WHO WE ARE
II. FINE’S VISION GOALS
III. GETTING STARTED
IV. CASE FOR INSTITUTIONS
V. REGIONAL APPROACH
VI. PARTNERS, FUNDERS, TEAM
VII. STRATEGIES
PART I
www.farmtoinstitution.org

3. WHAT IS FINE?
We’re a six-state network of
non-profit, public and private entities
with a mission to strengthen our food
system by increasing the amount of
New England-grown and processed
food served in our region’s schools,
hospitals, colleges and
other institutions.
www.farmtoinstitution.org

4. OUR VISION
MORE VIABLE FARM FOOD ENTERPRISES
GOOD JOBS A STRONG AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY
A ROBUST REGIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN INFRASTRUCTURE
CONSISTENT ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, HEALTHY FOOD
FOR ALL INSTITUTIONAL CONSUMERS
OUR GOALS
ALL NEW ENGLAND INSTITUTIONS
PREFERENTIALLY PURCHASE
REGIONALLY-PRODUCED FOOD
www.farmtoinstitution.org

5. HOW WE GOT STARTED
NEW ENGLAND AGRICULTURAL
NORTHEAST REGIONAL COMMISSIONERS
FARM TO SCHOOL NETWORK
www.farmtoinstitution.org

6. WHY INSTITUTIONS?
• They are market makers: institutions purchase over $1 billion
of food per year in New England alone
• They provide a diversified market for regional producers,
especially mid-sized farms and ranches
• They serve meals to over 3 million people per year, including
many who are at-risk nutritionally and/or economically
www.farmtoinstitution.org

7. WHY A REGIONAL APPROACH?
• There’s an imbalance in the New England food shed, with
more producers in the north and more consumers in the south
• Food is already being moved around the region by food
distributors and food service management companies
• New England is geographically small, making regional
collaboration convenient and practical
www.farmtoinstitution.org

8. FEATURED PARTNERS
Our network includes dozens of non-profits, institutions,
government agencies and private companies that work
together for collective impact. Meet a few of them!
www.farmtoinstitution.org

9. FUNDING PARTNERS
FINE has gratefully received financial support from the United States
Department of Agriculture, John Merck Fund, Henry P. Kendall Foundation,
Jane’s Trust and anonymous funders. Our funders are also key strategic
partners.
JANE’S
TRUST
www.farmtoinstitution.org

10. OUR TEAM
LEADERSHIP
CORE STAFF
Peter Allison
Network Director
Hartland, VT
Nessa Richman
Planning Development
Kingston, RI
Kaitlin Haskins
Communications
Sharon, VT
Riley Neugebauer
Farm to College
Lincolnville, ME
Charlene Anderson
New Hampshire Community Loan Fund
Kimberly Clark
Farm Fresh Rhode Island
Stacia Clinton
Health Care Without Harm, New England
Cris Coffin
American Farmland Trust, New England
Jiff Martin
University of Connecticut Extension
Ken Morse
Community Food Strategies
Abbie Nelson
NOFA-VT Vermont FEED
John Waite
Franklin County CDC; FINE Fiscal Manager
www.farmtoinstitution.org

11. OUR STRATEGIES
CONVENINGS NETWORKING
TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
RESEARCH
EDUCATION COMMUNICATIONS
www.farmtoinstitution.org

12. CURRENT
COLLABORATIONS
I. CORPORATE FOOD SERVICE
ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT
II. FARM TO COLLEGE
III. DISTRIBUTION RESEARCH ACTION
IV. PROCESSING COMMUNITY OF
PRACTICE
PART II
www.farmtoinstitution.org

13. CORPORATE FOOD SERVICE
ACCOUNTABILITY
www.farmtoinstitution.org

14. FARM TO COLLEGE NETWORK
www.farmtoinstitution.org

15. FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROJECTS
www.farmtoinstitution.org

16. FOOD PROCESSING COMMUNITY
OF PRACTICE
www.farmtoinstitution.org

17. WHAT’S A HEAD PART III
I. EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES
II. OUR NEW WEBSITE
III. GET IN TOUCH!
www.farmtoinstitution.org

18. EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES
• Shared farm to institution
metrics
• Farmer wholesale readiness
• FTI in food system plans /
procurement policy
• Collaborative dev. and
innovation fund
• State FTI networks
• Farm to Institution Summit,
Spring 2015!
www.farmtoinstitution.org

19. OUR NEW WEBSITE!
FINE
Flash:
Sign
Up
Here!
www.farmtoinstitution.org

20. BE IN TOUCH
PETER ALLISON, network director
peter@farmtoinstitution.org
KAITLIN HASKINS, communications
kaitlin@farmtoinstitution.org
NESSA RICHMAN, planning + dev.
nessa@farmtoinstitution.org
VISIT US ONLINE
www.farmtoinstitution.org
GIVE US A CALL
(802) 478-0078