June 13, 2025
Farm to Institution New York State (FINYS) is excited to announce the new school team cohort for the 2025-2026 New York Farm to School Institute:
- Forts Ferry Elementary School, North Colonie CSD (Albany County)
- Greater Johnstown School District (Fulton County)
- Jefferson Elementary School, City School District of New Rochelle (Westchester County)
- Yates Elementary School, Schenectady CSD (Schenectady County)
The New York Farm to School Institute is a professional development program for food service staff, educators, administrators, youth leaders, and community partners in New York schools to develop and refine their farm to school programs. The Institute offers school teams support on how to procure and prepare local foods, tools for community engagement, classroom and culinary education, and how to use farm to school programs to promote racial equity, food justice, land stewardship, and climate action.
These four school teams will join the seventh cohort of the New York Farm to School Institute. This program offers ongoing coaching support, a virtual mid-year gathering, a fully customized farm to school Action Plan, a $4,000 Implementation Award, and an end of year gathering in May 2026.
Schools will kick off their year at the two-day Institute Summer Retreat at Mabee Farm Historic Site in Rotterdam Junction from August 12-13, 2025. They will also have the opportunity to join producers looking to sell to schools at a School-Farmer Meet & Greet through FINYS’ new Farmer Track pilot program.
Farm to Institution New York State (FINYS) is an initiative led by the American Farmland Trust to dramatically expand the volume of food grown on local farms that is served in institutions across New York. We believe that transforming the local food economy requires systemic change and efforts of many - from agriculture, racial justice, equity, youth leadership, public health, economic development, environment, education and other sectors.