NH Farm to School Workgroup

moharimet maple sugaring

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
Fund mushroom growers to reduce their energy costs
Provide grant support for mushroom growers to obtain renewable energy infrastructure through programs, such as the USDA Rural Energy for America…
Goals & Tags: Farm, Fish, or Food Business, State Agencies, Federal Agencies, State/NH, (goal) Farm, Fish, and Food Business Viability, (goal) Natural Resources and Climate
 Not Started Mushrooms Program creation, support, or expansion, Investment/Funding
Explore avenues for improving insurance coverage options for mushroom growers
In New Hampshire that includes coverage for plausible issues like bacterial contamination, which is analogous to agricultural crop loss from disease.
Goals & Tags: Technical Assistance Providers, Farm, Fish, or Food Business, State/NH, (goal) Farm, Fish, and Food Business Viability
 Not Started Mushrooms Program creation, support, or expansion, Research/Study
Provide funding and support to the NH Grain Collaborative
This support will incite the development of a culinary grain economy in the state through: Technical assistance for farmers and millers; Coordination…
Goals & Tags: Farm, Fish, or Food Business, Technical Assistance Providers, State/NH, (goal) Local Food Economy
 Not Started Food-Grade Grains Coordination/Network development or support, Investment/Funding
Build a statewide database of place-based native and heirloom foods
This database will offer a long history in our region, as well as the critical habitats that support them, through collaboration between first…
Goals & Tags: Communities/Consumers, Local/Regional Government Agencies, Schools or Institutions, Nonprofits, Local/Municipal, State/NH, (goal) Farm, Fish, and Food Business Viability, (goal) Natural Resources and Climate
 Not Started Wild & Foraged Foods Resource/tool creation, support or expansion
Develop a voluntary reporting and marketing process to encourage growers to report and boost New Hampshire-bred seed and produce usage
This will include collaborating with UNH breeders and UNHInnovation, as well as private seed savers and the USDA Germplasm Repositories (to identify…
Goals & Tags: Technical Assistance Providers, Farm, Fish, or Food Business, State Agencies, Nonprofits, State/NH, (goal) Farm, Fish, and Food Business Viability
 Not Started Seeds Resource/tool creation, support or expansion, Program creation, support, or expansion
Fund stakeholder convenings around breeding needs
Convene New Hampshire chefs, farmers, and agriculture professionals to foster discussion around breeding needs (“What Needs Breeding?” events) and to…
Goals & Tags: Farm, Fish, or Food Business, Technical Assistance Providers, State/NH, (goal) Natural Resources and Climate
 Not Started Seeds Program creation, support, or expansion, Coordination/Network development or support, Investment/Funding, Research/Study
Establish a state honeybee oversight committee
This committee will facilitate dialogue between the beekeeping industry, stakeholders, and other organizations and businesses to advocate for the…
Goals & Tags: Farm, Fish, or Food Business, State Agencies, State/NH, (goal) Farm, Fish, and Food Business Viability, (goal) Natural Resources and Climate
 Not Started Bees & Honey Program creation, support, or expansion, Policy/Regulation
Increase legally regulated information sharing between pesticide applicators and beekeepers
Reinstate and enhance the legal requirements of pesticide applicators to notify apiary owners prior to pesticide application, and develop and…
Goals & Tags: State Agencies, Farm, Fish, or Food Business, State/NH, (goal) Farm, Fish, and Food Business Viability, (goal) Natural Resources and Climate
 Not Started Bees & Honey Program creation, support, or expansion, Policy/Regulation
Conduct a feasibility study to license midsized laying hen operations
Conduct a feasibility study for a state-run program to license midsized laying hen operations with 3,000 to 10,000 laying hens. The program would…
Goals & Tags: State Agencies, State/NH, (goal) Farm, Fish, and Food Business Viability, (goal) Local Food Economy
 Not Started Meat & Eggs Policy/Regulation, Research/Study
Launch a state-run Large Animal Veterinarian Bridge Program
The program will address gaps and demonstrate demand for a large animal veterinarian practice in New Hampshire. The program could host a veterinarian…
Goals & Tags: State Agencies, NH Dept of Agriculture, Markets, and Food, Farm, Fish, or Food Business, State/NH, (goal) Farm, Fish, and Food Business Viability
 Not Started Meat & Eggs Program creation, support, or expansion

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