March 19, 2025
We are excited to announce the Strengthening Food & Farm Foundations: Farmer Track a part of our New York Farm to School Institute. The Farmer Track, a professional development opportunity for New York farmers and producers to develop and refine their Farm to School market, is seeking applicants for its inaugural 2025-26 cohort. Farm to School offers a way for farmers to build diversified, profitable, and resilient farming operations for now and into the future through institutional markets. The 30% NYS Initiative Program offers a financial incentive for K-12 schools to purchase local food for their meal programs. This training and educational program will assist participating farm businesses to understand and meet the needs to institutional markets and connect with schools and farmers invested in local food procurement.
The Institute is coordinated by American Farmland Trust’s Farm to Institution New York State (FINYS) program and supports food service staff, educators, administrators, and community partners in New York schools to help bring more New York grown food into the cafeteria and classroom. This year, farmers will join the network to further develop successful Farm to School programs and connecting schools with farmers. The Farmer Track is also excited to announce our partner, Terrapin Consulting who will be supporting the program by providing a 3-part training, and individualized technical assistance for participants.
“Farm to School bridges New York farmers and producers with K-12 schools and is essential to strengthening both our local food systems and local economies,” said Stephanie Hsu, American Farmland Trust’s FINYS Manager. “These programs are critical in helping students recognize the importance of agriculture and ensures access to nourishing local food through the cafeteria and classroom. It’s a win-win for everyone. The New York Farm to School Institute Farmer Track offers farm businesses a pathway for farms to develop resilient operations. In previous years, FINYS has supported farmers through Bringing the Farm to School Producer Trainings and identifying best practices for procurement and cultivating school-farm relationships. The Farmer Track will allow farmers to take a deeper dive into what it takes to sell to schools and institutions and to develop one-on-one relationships with New York schools.”
“New York farmers and producers thrive when they have reliable, consistent markets, and when those markets are local, the economic impact multiplies – recirculating dollars in the community at a 3.1 multiplier,” said Kaitlyn Sirna, Founder of Terrapin Consulting. “Farm to School is more than a sales opportunity; it’s a strategy for building resilient, community-centered farm businesses. I am excited to support this program by doing what I do best-helping farms and agri-food businesses expand their sales through a values-based business model that balances sustainability, community-driven solutions, and business success.”
Key features of the Farmer Track include:
- An in-person Farmer-School Meet & Greet on August 12, 2025, at the Mabee Farm Historic Site in Rotterdam Junction, NY, where farmers will connect with schools interested in buying local products
- A three-part workshop series, hosted in spring and fall, designed to guide farmers through the foundations of Farm to School sales, on-farm readiness, and securing institutional buyers
- Discussion and training sessions that focus on business needs, peer-to-peer learning, and market networking, helping farmers connect with others navigating similar challenges and opportunities.
- Ongoing technical assistance provided by industry experts with firsthand farming and sales experience, ensuring farmers receive tailored support to navigate institutional markets
Potential stipends to support their business plans and participating in storytelling efforts, subject to grant funding availability.
Interested farm businesses are encouraged to apply by April 4th at www.finys.org/farmer. Know a farmer who would be a great fit? We invite you to forward this email to them! Please send any questions about the Institute to [email protected] or call 518-581-0078.