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Chives
  • Who We Are

    Farm to Institution New England is a six-state network of nonprofit, public and private entities working together to transform our food system by increasing the amount of good, local food served in our region’s schools, hospitals, colleges, correctional facilities, and other institutions. The FINE network consists of non-profit organizations, government agencies, institutions, foundations, farms, food distributors, food processors, food service operators and others.

  • Mission

    Our mission is to mobilize the power of New England institutions to transform our food system.

    2021-2022 Impact Report

    Other Impact & Annual Reports

    2020-2021  |  2017-2018  |  2016-2017  |  2015-2016 

  • Vision

    By 2030, we envision New England institutions and the FINE network playing leadership roles in cultivating a region that is moving towards self-reliance. We envision an equitable and just food system that provides access to healthy and abundant food for all New Englanders, and is defined by sustainable and productive land and ocean ecosystems.

    FINE’s vision is in alignment with those of many other food system entities, including the New England Food Vision created by Food Solutions New England. The vision we hold places emphasis on both the way that institutions and the farm to institution network will be operating, and the cultural conditions we see existing by 2030.

    2020 Strategic Plan & Strategy Filter (PDF)

    Strategy Filter (PDF)

  • Values

    We value:

    Collaboration Networks of diverse actors working together with a spirit of trust and generosity toward shared goals.

    Community & Place Place-based multi-state approaches that build on the unique geographic identity and history of our New England communities and region to promote relationships and foster productive change.  

    Diversity A wide range of opinions (or “ways of knowing”), traditions, approaches, backgrounds, and communities.

    Equity Fair and just access to resources and opportunities for all within the food system and beyond, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, educational level, economic status or other characteristics.

    Healthy Ecosystems The integrity and biodiversity of natural systems. From recycling nutrients to promoting healthy fish stocks, crop diversity, soil and water quality, energy conservation, and resilience in the face of changing climates, we recognize that the well-being of people and planet are inextricably linked.

    Strategic Disruption Actions that directly challenge elements of the food system that run counter to our values.

    The Right to Food The belief that everyone deserves access to nutritious, affordable, sustainably produced, culturally appropriate food.  

    Thriving Local Economies Economies that cultivate socially equitable, financially viable, and environmentally healthy food systems and ensure that economic power resides locally to the greatest extent possible. This includes ensuring decent and dignified livelihoods for farmers, community-based fishermen and all supply chain workers.

    Transparency Open access to information that has the potential to create positive change in the food system, and a commitment to honesty regarding goals and purpose when working in collaboration.

  • Commitment to DEI

    FINE is committed to addressing the inequities on which our current food system is built and which we as food systems practitioners perpetuate when we accept the status quo.

    Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  • Our Work

    FINE works in three primary ways. We (1) serve as the backbone for the farm to institution network in New England, (2) catalyze collaborative projects that address key barriers in the New England institutional supply chain, and (3) advance a policy and programmatic agenda.

    OUR programs

    Overview (PDF)

    2021-2022 Impact Report

    Other Impact & Annual Reports

    2020-2021  |  2017-2018  |  2016-2017  |  2015-2016 

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      Group of conference attendees all seated, many are clapping.

      Northeast Farm to Institution Summit

  • Newsletter

    Newsletter Archive 

    The Fine Print (newsletter logo)

    Subscribe for useful news & events - sent every other week

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  • Team

    Meet our staff and network advisory council!

    We're working to ensure that students and patients at schools, colleges and hospitals across New England have access to healthy, regionally grown food.

    Staff

    he / him
    Executive Director
    she / her
    Program Manager
    she / her
    Director of Strategic Impact
    she / her
    Director of Communications
    she / her
    Project Director
    she / her
    Director of Programs

    Network Advisory Council

    she/her
    Food Policy Analyst, City of New Haven, CT
    she/her
    Co-Founder, Seed Change Strategies
    he/him
    Institutional Sales Associate, Food Connects
    she/her
    Sales and Marketing Manager, Harvesting Good
    she/her
    Professor of the Practice in the College of the Environment, Wesleyan University
    Founder and CEO, FATBOY Foods
    Gulf of Maine Research Institute
    Executive Director (ret.), The John Merck Fund
    Eastern Regional Director of Innovation & Equity for the Healthy Food in Healthcare Program, Health Care Without Harm
    ML Design Studio
    New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food
    Strategic Accounts Manager, Native Maine Produce
    she/her
    Farm and Sea to School Director, Farm Fresh Rhode Island
    he/him
    General Manager of Farm Connex, Center for an Agricultural Economy
    Catering and Special Events Director, UMass Dartmouth Dining Services
    she/her
    Director of Programs, The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT)
    New Haven Community Coordinator
    Director of Food Strategy, Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
    Director of Food System Policy at the City of New Haven, CT
    Harvest Table Culinary Group
    he/him
    Owner, Tory Hill ; Manager of Dining Services, The Hotchkiss School
    CEO, 2 Aspire Consulting; Project Manager, Southern New England Farmers of Color Coalition; Engagement Manager, Boston Waterfront Initiative, The Trustees

  • Funders

    Farm to Institution New England is generously funded by the following foundations and agencies:

    The Whitehead Foundation 

    Cotyledon Fund 

    Daybreak Fund

    Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation

    Henry P. Kendall Foundation

    United States Department of Agriculture

    United States Environmental Protection Agency

  • Fiscal Sponsor

    TSNE logo with tagline 'Partners in social change'

    Farm to Institution New England is fiscally sponsored by Third Sector New England, Inc. (TSNE), a charitable 501(c)(3) organization.

  • History

    Plate of cubed root vegetables being scooped into a big pot

    Farm to Institution New England (FINE) was launched in 2011 as a joint initiative of the Regional Steering Committee of the National Farm to School Network and a collaboration of New England agricultural commissioners. Since inception, FINE has focused on developing cross-sector connections between K-12 schools, colleges and universities, hospitals and other institutions such as day cares, health centers, assisted living facilities, prisons, government facilities and corporate campuses. Today, FINE serves those at the forefront of the farm to institution movement in the region, providing a forum to connect and share ideas, models, resources and support. Learn more about our network by reading our story as a book chapter, and in this case study.

  • Press

    Food for Thought: A New Way to Measure “Farm-to-Campus” Operations
    New England Journal of Higher Education | January 2022

    Can Small Farmers Make it Big in Rhode Island?
    Rhode Island Monthly | October 2019

    Big Food Paybacks to Cafeteria Operators Spark Controversy
    Food & Power | September 2018

    Stonehill seeks to unite New England campus farms
    Wicked Local Easton | February 2018

    Bushel of New England Campus Farms Visit Stonehill for Summit
    Stonehill College | February 2018

    Designing A Food Hub Network for New England
    KK&P | January 2018

    National Farm to School Month Interview with FINE's Network Director 
    iEat Green on Progressive Radio Network | October 2017

    Sodexo in New England Plays Major Role in FINE Summit
    Sodexo Magazine | Spring 2017

    A kid smelling herbs before they are planted

    117 Organizations to Watch in 2017
    FoodTank | December 2016

    Farm to Institution Lessons Learned
    Vermont Farm to Plate | December 2016

    Farm to cafeteria table: The new local food frontier
    GreenBiz | October 2016

    Tips to Grow the Farm to Institution Marketplace
    Vermont Farm to Plate | October 2016

    Why Farm-to-Institution Sourcing is the Sleeping Giant of Local Food
    Civil Eats | August 2016

    Region's distributors cite lack of supply, high prices of local foods (only available to subscribers)
    Sustainable Food News | August 2016

    New Report Reveals Farm to Institution Trends in Food Distribution
    UVM Food Feed | August 2016

    Bring local food movement to University of Maine System campuses
    Portland Press Herald | October 2015

    Maine’s Public Universities to Increase Use of Local Food
    Boston Globe | August 2015

    Maine’s universities should walk the talk on local foods, farms
    Bangor Daily News | August 2015

    The Fight For Local Food Arrives at the University of Maine
    Modern Farmer | August 2015

    Advocates urge UMaine System to dish up local foods to students
    Portland Press Herald | July 2015

    Maine food producers call on universities to think local when feeding students
    Bangor Daily News | July 2015

    Group Wants UMaine System to Buy More Maine-Grown Produce
    MPBN | July 2015

    Locally grown food for UMaine campuses offers sustainable food path and helps farmers
    Maine Insights | July 2015

  • Jobs

    We do not have any paid positions open at this time.

    Subscribe to our newsletter where we post food system job opportunities from around New England. 

  • Contact Us

    General Inquiries info@farmtoinstitution.org
    Summit & Events dana@farmtoinstitution.org
    Programs tania@farmtoinstitution.org
    Network & Development peter@farmtoinstitution.org
    Research & Metrics hannah@farmtoinstitution.org
    Communications sarah@farmtoinstitution.org

    Farm to Institution New England
    34 Linden Road
    Hartland, VT 05048