Northeastern School Kids Get More Local Food

"Farm-to-school programs serve locally or regionally produced foods (two common definitions being foods produced within 50 miles or within the State) in school meals in many school districts. According to the USDA’S Farm to School Census, 35% of U.S. school districts reported serving local food in school meals during the 2011-12 school year.

About 19% of school districts, containing 30% of American school children, served at least one locally sourced food item daily. Milk, fruit, and vegetables were the most frequently served locally produced foods. USDA’s analysis revealed that districts in the Northeast were 28 percentage points more likely to serve local foods daily than those in the Southwest; districts in cities were 11 percentage points more likely than those in rural areas to do so; and districts with 5,000 or more students were 9 percentage points more likely to do so compared to districts with under 5,000 students. Serving local foods daily in school cafeterias was also more common in states with more legislated policies supporting farm-to-school programs."

Source: USDA, 5/1/17, Farm-to-School

Celebrity Chef Seeks to End Hunger in USA

Rachel Martin of NPR's Morning Edition recently spoke with celebrity chef and hunger advocate,Tom Colicchio to discuss hunger related issues described below:

"An estimated 13.1 million kids live in homes with insufficient food, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And the number of college students struggling with hunger has prompted more campuses to open food pantries.

Seniors and people with disabilities also suffer from hunger, and federal money for programs like Meals on Wheels may face cuts under President Trump's proposed budget."

Source: NPR, 5/1/17, Read More >

Farmers Support Food Assistance In Next Farm Bill

As Congress prepares to craft a new Farm Bill, farm industry advocates are encouraging farmers to support keeping food assistance programs like SNAP in the 2018 Farm Bill.

“They’ve been together since the early 1970s and it really helps to form a balanced bill that can make it through the House of Representatives and ultimately the Senate,” director of market intelligence for the American Farm Bureau Federation John Newton explained. “The Farm Bill is a $1 trillion package over 10 years, with about 80%t of that money going to food assistance and nutrition programs.”

Newton said conversations on the 2018 Farm Bill are underway, with several Senate and House hearings already completed.

Source: Farmers’ Advance, 4/4/17, Farm Bill

Plate Of The Union

The Environmental Working Group and Food Policy Action Education Fund are launching the Plate of the Union campaign, which aims to encourage consumers to become activists for policies that make food safer, make healthy food more accessible, and make food production better for our environment.

The campaign will focus on four main issues:

1. Stopping taxpayer subsidies going to Big Ag polluters; 
2. Protecting and improving anti-hunger programs like SNAP;
3. Increasing federal investments in organic agriculture; and
4. Expanding federal programs to revitalize land and reduce food waste.

The new initiative will deploy grassroots and online tools and tactics to raise awareness about farm and food policies, and show why consumers must demand their right to healthy food as Congress begins crafting a new Farm Bill.

Source: InsuranceNewsNet, 2/22/17, Plate of the Union

Farm Bill Will Soon Be Back On The Table

Food and agriculture policy experts met recently to discuss the 2018 Farm Bill. The discussion was hosted by AGree, a bipartisan food policy organization supported by eight of the largest food and ag-focused foundations.

One key topic of conversation was the future of SNAP which, like other nutrition programs, are funded through the Farm Bill and account for about 75% of its spending ($89 billion in 2016). Republican legislators have, in the past, proposed removing SNAP from the Farm Bill and converting it to a block grant. Several participants at the AGree event seemed confident that the SNAP program wouldn’t experience major cuts, let alone block-granting. But Eric Mitchell, from the anti-hunger advocacy organization Bread for the World, was more skeptical. He expressed concern that the Republican Congress might still pursue block-granting SNAP, even against the wishes of agriculture groups, and noted that several powerful Republicans have supported a move to block grants, including House Agriculture Committee chair Mike Conaway and House Speaker Paul Ryan.


Source: Civil Eats, 2/8/17, Farm Bill

Urban Farmers Receive Millions Here in CT

"Every year, the US Department of Agriculture devotes millions of dollars to farmers in rural areas.
The government is increasingly starting to offer assistance to urban farms, too.

In 2016, the USDA funded a dozen urban farms, the highest number in history, Val Dolicini, the administrator for the USDA Farm Services Agency, tells Business Insider.

USDA Microloans, a program that offers funding up to $50,000, is specifically geared toward urban farmers. Established in 2013, the program has awarded 23,000 loans worth $518 million to farms in California, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

Though it is open to all farmers, urban farmers often apply for it because it offers the money on a smaller scale than other programs. Seventy percent (or about 16,100 of those loans) have gone to new farmers, many of them in cities."

Source: CT Post, 12/27/16,  Read More...

Federal Farm Subsidies Don't Help, May Hurt, Low-Income Americans

A new study investigates whether US farm subsidy policies help the food consumption and nutritional well-being of low-income Americans. It focuses on the poor, because they are especially vulnerable to changes in food prices. On net, the study finds, the impact of these subsidy programs on US consumer prices is tiny.

It concludes that farm programs do not affect food prices in a way that protects the poor. The people whose incomes are most improved by farm policies are not those at risk of poverty and hunger. The study finds, farm subsidies may compete for budget dollars with federal nutrition assistance programs that help poor people. Government spending on farm subsidies may reduce spending on SNAP and school lunch subsidies, and other food and nutrition programs in the USDA budget.

Source: American Enterprise Institute, 1/9/17, Farm Subsidies

Seed Pods take Root

Last summer Foodshare's Food Sourcing Manager received a call from Feeding America with a large supply of 50,000 seed pods from MiracleGro. Together with our Community Engagement Team, we were successful in distributing over 40,000 seeds that will now be used for various community-based projects.

To highlight just a few of those projects:

• Bristol Housing will be using the seeds for a gardening project with their elderly residents. A portion will also be used to coincide with their “Reading is Fun” program for children. Each child who participates will help to plant the veggies, keeping whatever they grow. 

• Hartford Food System is currently using the seed pods both with the early learning center program, the Little City Sprouts, and as a giveaway on their Hartford Mobile Market.

• Trinity College Community Garden will be using the seeds for their Read and Seed project.

• Knox seed pods will be donated to all twenty community gardens within their network. Gardeners will donate much of the produce that is grown to local food banks and community kitchens.

Thank you to MiracleGro for this unexpected donation, and to all the individuals and organizations exponentially "growing" good in the community as a result!

Battles Arise for Food and Farm Policies

The Trump administration has, so far, paid very little attention to policies regarding food and farming. But there is likely to be major changes to current food policies with the incoming administration.

Kip Tom, a farmer from Indiana and member of Trump's advisory committee on agricultural policy, described this as a time to "swing for the fences."

Check out the full article from NPR to learn about potential changes coming down the pike.

NESAWG Hosts Annual Conference

The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Work Group (NESAWG) will be hosting its annual It Takes a Region conference, November 10-12 in Hartford. The conference brings together farm and food system practitioners across the 12-state Northeast region to learn, debate, collaborate, and innovate solutions to critical food systems issues. The theme for this year's conference is Tackling Wicked Problems in Food Systems.

For more info->

Multi-Hunger Action Team (HAT) Gleaning Project Rescues Over 23,000 Pounds of Squash!

The East Windsor Hunger Action Team (HAT) partnered with Reichle Farms in South Windsor for the third year in row to glean butternut, acorn, and Spaghetti squash. Over 23,000 pounds of squash was gleaned with help from more than 80 local volunteers last weekend.

Most of  the squash was distributed locally, along with healthy recipes, to agencies and low-income families within the towns of East Windsor, East Hartford, Enfield, South Windsor, Windsor, Newington and Hartford.

Thank you to the organizer—and East Windsor HAT Gleaning Captain—Peter Stagon, as well as Earl Reichle for opening his fields to us. Additional support was provided by Bill and Marie Groves from Five Corner Cupboard in East Windsor, Kristen Formanek from The Town of East Windsor Social Services, as well as Gary Richards and his volunteers from the East Hartford Hunger Action Team.  A special thank you to Carter Southerland from CarterCares, as well as Ray and Bridget Halpin for providing additional trucks.  Water and pizza were provided for all the volunteers.  Everyone had a great time and we look forward to making this an even bigger event next year!

To learn more about Foodshare's Hunger Action Teams visit our website, or contact Beatrice Maslowski, Community Network Builder at (860) 286-9999. x180.

Farm To School Flourishing

October is National Farm to School Month. By incorporating local foods, farm to school programs help school meal programs fulfill the updated nutrition standards with appealing and diverse offerings. The recent 2015 USDA Farm to School Census shows farm to school programs now exist in every state in the nation and in every type of school district – large and small, rural and urban alike. The census found that strong farm to school programs can increase the number of students buying school meals, improve consumption of healthier foods at school, and reduce plate waste.

Equally important, millions of children are learning about where their food comes from and being exposed to lessons about healthy eating. USDA’s Farm to School Grant Program annually provides competitive grants up to $5 million for training, operational support, planning, purchasing equipment, developing school gardens, developing partnerships, and implementing farm to school programs. It is currently accepting applications for FY 2017 grants.

Source: USDA, 10/3/16,  View Article...

Faith & Justice Film Series

Join us on July 20 at Asylum Hill Congregational Church for the documentary “Food Chain,” a story about a group of Florida Farmworkers and their battle with a $4 trillion global supermarket chain that resulted in the Fair Food Movement.

East Windsor HAT honors Reichle Farm during 2nd Anniversary celebration!

East Windsor HAT Members Celebrate 2nd HAT Anniversary

Left to right, Glenn Reichle (Riechle Farm), Peter Stagon (HAT Gleaning Captain), and Karl Reichle (Reichle Farm)

The East Windsor Hunger Action Team (HAT) recognized and honored Karl and Glenn Reichle at the January 6, 2016 HAT meeting. Reichle Farm generously opened their fields for gleaning during 2014 and 2015 to HAT members and local volunteers. East Windsor HAT Gleaning Captain, Peter Stagon, presented a custom plaque to Karl and Glenn to recognize their amazing generosity and care for our neighbors. Kristen Formanek, Director of East Windsor Social Services, read a letter of appreciation from the HAT members during the presentation. Peter made his famous butternut squash soup for the celebration using the squash he personally gleaned last fall.

The East Windsor HAT is proud of their many accomplishments during the last 2 years, including spearheading the multi-HAT gleaning project that rescued over 11,000 lbs. of butternut squash, all of which was distributed locally during October 2015, a new 2015 Summer Meals site in East Windsor, ongoing support for local agencies including Pauline's Stock Pot Soup Kitchen, as well as the Five Corner Cupboard Food Pantry. The East Windsor HAT fielded a Walk Team to support the Foodshare 2015 Walk Against Hunger that raised over $2,000. The HAT looks forward to bringing even more local produce into the community and expanding relationships with local growers during 2016.

For more information about Foodshare's Hunger Action Teams, please contact Beatrice Maslowski at 860-286-9999 x180.

Veggie Rescue in East Hartford

(l to r) Rev Gary Richards (NCUMC), Bob Handel (Handel Family Farm), Honora Futtner, Maggie Futtner, Jim Futtner (Futtner Family Farms), Rosemary Bottum (NCUMC); not pictured: Lisa Handel

Veggie Rescue is a project of the East Hartford Hunger Action Team (HAT). The East Hartford Hunger Action Team recognized and honored two local farmers as part of the December 10th HAT meeting. Donated surplus farm fresh produce from area growers Futtner Family Farm and Handel Family Farm provided 100s of pounds of fresh produce during the summer. The produce was delivered to East Hartford sites including senior housing complexes, the East Hartford Shelter and adult education students at New Covenant United Methodist Church (NCUMC).

Plaques were presented to the farmers from the East Hartford HAT members to recognize their amazing generosity and care for our neighbors. The HAT received a large delivery of butternut squash prior to the meeting from the farmers. The HAT looks forward to bringing more local produce into the community in the future and expanding relationships with local growers.

For more information about Foodshare's Hunger Action Teams, please contact Beatrice Maslowski at 860-286-9999 x180.

HAT volunteers pick & distribute 11,000 lbs. of butternut squash

The East Windsor Hunger Action Team (HAT) partnered with Reichle Farms in South Windsor again this year to glean butternut squash. A total of 11,000 pounds of butternut squash was gleaned by over 50 local volunteers on October 4 and October 11. Thank you to organizer and East Windsor HAT Gleaning Captain, Peter Stagon, as well as Earl Reichle for opening his fields to us. Additional support was provided by Bill and Marie Groves and David Hansen from Five Corner Cupboard in East Windsor, as well as Gary Richards from the East Hartford Hunger Action Team.

All 11,000 pounds of the butternut squash was distributed locally, along with recipes, to East Windsor, East Hartford, Enfield, Somers and Hartford. Learn more about Foodshare's Hunger Action Teams on our website, or contact Beatrice Maslowski, Community Network Builder at (860)286-9999.

East Hartford HAT celebrates anniversary!

The East Hartford Hunger Action Team (HAT) celebrated their second anniversary at the October 8th meeting with cupcakes, macoun apples and cider with 21 members in attendance.  The inaugural meeting with 15 people was held on October 10, 2013. During the last 2 years the team has grown to include over 125 members representing more than 50 organizations. Recent initiatives include a successful summer evening meals program, distribution of over 100 boxes per month of food for seniors, a teaching garden at Goodwin Elementary School, and collaboration with local farmer's to glean over 2,500 pounds of fresh local produce for distribution to more than 15 local organizations in need.

For additional information on Hunger Action Teams, please contact Beatrice Maslowski, Community Network Builder, at Foodshare by calling 860-286-9999 x 180

One A-maize-ing Story

Every year, Ellington cattle farmer Dan Bahler grows 2,000 acres of corn to feed his livestock. He also sets aside extra acres to grow sweet corn for his family, employees, and the surrounding community. He plants every two weeks during the summer until the middle of July so that he’ll have enough for the fall season. He oversees 30 employees, and at harvest time his family joins in to pick the corn. 

Farmer Dan and some of his sweet corn at the Regional Market

About five years, ago, Dan called up Foodshare because he had some extra sweet corn for us to glean. What’s different about this routine procedure is that Dan kept growing extra corn and delivering it with his friends and fellow church members to our facility at the Regional Market in Hartford. Now, he grows a whole field of sweet corn every year and brings thousands of pounds of extra corn to the Regional Market, Hockanum Valley Community Council, or Cornerstone in Rockville. 

For Dan, this is how he gives back to the community. “We’ve got the land; we can do this,” he said. Of all of our donors, Dan is the only one that does it this way. He goes above and beyond the call: he expects no payment in return – not for gas, labor, or anything.

It is people like Dan Bahler who are essential to the Movement to Solve Hunger. The Movement isn’t just about tabling at events. It isn’t just sorting food at either of our locations. It isn’t only about joining a Hunger Action Team. The Movement is about you. What are your passions? What are your skillsets? How can you use them to enact change in our community?

Farmland preservation event next Saturday

For event updates, visit event page or

RSVP by clicking here and receive a FREE commemorative gift!

Farmland preservation event in September

For event updates, visit event page or

RSVP by clicking here and receive a FREE commemorative gift!