NH Farm to School Workgroup

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The NH Farm to School Workgroup is a short-term, time-limited workgroup convened to inform the future direction, priorities, and strategic focus of NH Farm to School as it transitions into its next phase. Over approximately five meetings, the workgroup will gather input from key stakeholders to assess current needs, opportunities, and gaps across education, agriculture, and food systems. Insights from this process will help guide programmatic, policy, and partnership decisions to strengthen farm to school efforts statewide and better support New Hampshire farmers, schools, and communities.

This workgroup is led by:

  • Laura Alimayu, NH Farm to School Coordinator, UNH Extension
  • Mike Smith, NH Ag in the Classroom, UNH Extension

The NH Farm to School workgroup will be launched in February 2026.  The four meetings of this time limited workgroup are as follows: 

  • February 16, 2026 1:00 to 2:30pm
  • March 16, 2026 1:00 to 2:30pm
  • April 20, 2026 1:00 to 2:30pm
  • May 18, 2026 1:00 to 2:30pm 

 If you are interested in joining this workgroup, please fill out the form linked below.

 JOIN THE WORKGROUP

Recommendation Status Brief Topic Type of Action
Conduct research to examine the benefits and limitations of different collaborative aggregation and marketing models
This research would guide the development of organizational and legal structures for different contexts and needs. Identify the factors that…
In Progress Food Hubs & Collaborative Marketing Research/Study
Increase technical assistance capacity for food hubs and multi-farmer collaborative marketing initiatives
Increase technical assistance capacity in four areas: Coaching to design and facilitate a process for farmers and food businesses interested in…
Not Started Food Hubs & Collaborative Marketing Program creation, support, or expansion
Develop capacity to coordinate and support fundraising efforts for food hubs and multi-farmer collaborative marketing initiatives
Increased capacity will reduce grant writing and administrative burdens, leverage partnerships, generate increased support for operating funds, and…
Not Started Food Hubs & Collaborative Marketing Coordination/Network development or support, Investment/Funding
Advocate for improvements to state and federal funding programs
Improvements should be made to programs including the USDA Local Agricultural Marketing Program, to reduce administrative burdens and include general…
Not Started Food Hubs & Collaborative Marketing Investment/Funding, Policy/Regulation
Provide dedicated state, federal, and private funding for technical assistance, programming, and mediation for farm succession programs
Funding will: Provide financial support for farmers to participate in succession planning programs; Develop more farm succession education…
Not Started Farmland Conservation, Access, & Succession Program creation, support, or expansion, Coordination/Network development or support, Investment/Funding
Provide dedicated state, federal, and private funding for technical assistance, mentorship, and capital for farmland access programs
Funding will support: Research, expansion, and development of innovative models for cooperative and alternative land tenure; Increasing access to…
Not Started Farmland Conservation, Access, & Succession Program creation, support, or expansion, Investment/Funding, Research/Study
Provide dedicated state, federal, and private funding for agricultural conservation easement programs and land trusts
Expand existing state and private funding programs to prioritize farmland protection projects; Secure adequate funding for the state’s Agricultural…
Not Started Farmland Conservation, Access, & Succession Program creation, support, or expansion, Investment/Funding
Expand farm business technical assistance capacity
Advocacy for the following improvements can expand farm business technical assistance capacity: Agricultural organizations increasing farm business…
Not Started Farm Business Technical Assistance Program creation, support, or expansion, Investment/Funding
Create a database to connect farm business professionals with farmers
Create and populate a searchable database to connect available farm business professionals with farmers, including subject matter expertise, cost for…
Not Started Farm Business Technical Assistance Resource/tool creation, support or expansion
Create a multi-year plan to build capacity for and attract new agricultural professionals
This plan could include identifying skill gaps in organizations currently offering farm business technical assistance, accounting for the diversity…
Not Started Farm Business Technical Assistance Program creation, support, or expansion, Coordination/Network development or support

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