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
Stipulate open space land for food production in the Master Planning process
In the Land Use section of the Master Planning process, ask towns to allow open space land, i.e. land not currently used or forested, like parks and…
Goals & Tags: Local/Regional Government Agencies, Local/Municipal, (goal) Natural Resources and Climate, (goal) Nutrition and Access
 Not Started Home & Community Gardens Policy/Regulation
Reserve open space land in conservation subdivisions for food production
Encourage town planning boards to require conservation subdivisions to make open space land available for food production.
Goals & Tags: Local/Regional Government Agencies, Local/Municipal, (goal) Local Food Economy
 Not Started Home & Community Gardens Policy/Regulation
Fund two, full-time UNH Extension positions focused on home and community gardens
These two full-time equivalent (FTE) positions at UNH Extension will expand capacity for work in support of community and home gardeners, including…
Goals & Tags: UNH Extension, Communities/Consumers, State/NH, (goal) Nutrition and Access, (goal) Local Food Economy
 Not Started Home & Community Gardens Resource/tool creation, support or expansion, Program creation, support, or expansion
Research successful health and nutrition curriculum
Perform research into successful health and nutrition curriculum that is being implemented in New Hampshire schools.
Goals & Tags: Schools or Institutions, State/NH, (goal) Nutrition and Access
 Not Started Food System Literacy, Childhood and School-Age Children Research/Study
Increase school and youth garden programming by providing support and resources for educators
Increased school and youth garden programming in New Hampshire can provide opportunities to learn about growing food, eating and dietary choices,…
Goals & Tags: Schools or Institutions, Nonprofits, State/NH, (goal) Engagement and Education, (goal) Nutrition and Access
 Not Started Food System Literacy, Childhood and School-Age Children Program creation, support, or expansion
Promote and expand food system literacy in New Hampshire
This can be effectively achieved by increasing the adoption of educational initiatives such as the NH Agriculture in the Classroom curriculum, the NH…
Goals & Tags: Schools or Institutions, Nonprofits, State/NH, (goal) Engagement and Education, (goal) Nutrition and Access
 Not Started Food System Literacy, Childhood and School-Age Children Resource/tool creation, support or expansion, Program creation, support, or expansion
Pass a policy to support a permanent local food procurement reimbursement program for schools
Pass a policy to support a permanent version of the Local Food for Local Schools Purchasing Incentive Pilot Program through the NH Department of…
Goals & Tags: State Agencies, NH Dept of Agriculture, Markets, and Food, Schools or Institutions, State/NH, (goal) Nutrition and Access, (goal) Farm, Fish, and Food Business Viability
 In Progress Food System Literacy, Childhood and School-Age Children Policy/Regulation
Develop a statewide farm to school grant program
The grant program would increase funding for schools and organizations to support: Gardening space, learning kitchens, and other relevant materials;…
Goals & Tags: Nonprofits, Schools or Institutions, State Agencies, State/NH, (goal) Nutrition and Access, (goal) Farm, Fish, and Food Business Viability
 Not Started Food System Literacy, Childhood and School-Age Children Resource/tool creation, support or expansion, Program creation, support, or expansion, Investment/Funding
Expand and integrate local food nutrition incentive programs
Expand and integrate nutrition incentive programs, such as Granite State Market Match, Double Up Food Bucks, and Vouchers for Veterans, into larger,…
Goals & Tags: State Agencies, Nonprofits, State/NH, (goal) Equity and Justice, (goal) Local Food Economy, (goal) Nutrition and Access
 Not Started Direct-to-Consumer & Consumer Education Program creation, support, or expansion, Coordination/Network development or support
Fund two management positions to support farmers’ markets and CSAs
Fund two full-time equivalent (FTE) positions focused on professional management and infrastructure improvements for farmers’ markets and CSAs,…
Goals & Tags: Nonprofits, Local/Municipal, State/NH, (goal) Local Food Economy
 Not Started Direct-to-Consumer & Consumer Education Program creation, support, or expansion, Investment/Funding, Research/Study

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