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Advancing Greenwich’s food security initiatives by

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Reminder

July CoP

B & Martha organized Carrot Day at Hamilton Avenue Elementary School to catalyze efforts to expand Farm to School within Greenwich Public Schools.

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Zoom

Martha Ramkellawan, GPS Food Service Director, and B Regan, Southwest CT Regional Farm to School Coordinator, will join us to talk about their collaboration and the results of the CT Fresh Ed Compass Snapshot for Greenwich Public Schools. B will explain the Compass Snapshot, as well as facilitate a brainstorming session. The question we will discuss is:

Given the results of the Compass Snapshot, what district-wide farm to school goals are attainable for Greenwich for the 2026/2027 school year? Possibilities include creating a district-wide farm to school team, curating recurring farm to school events, streamlining local food processing with new kitchen equipment, and more. Please come with any ideas and farm to school dreams you have for the district!

The CT Fresh Ed Compass is a Farm to School readiness and growth tool developed by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) in partnership with the University of Connecticut. The Compass captures important elements of Farm to School operations according to each local educational agency (LEA). The CSDE and the Regional Farm to School Coordinators will use the Compass Snapshot to develop or inform action plans with each LEA to integrate Farm to School practices into their district or school initiatives, food service operations, or programming.

(Please note: New Lebanon's Farm to School initiative is a school-specific program. Their distinct work intersects with the Compass Snapshot tool, with more rigorous goals and intended outcomes. Additional context will be provided in our upcoming meeting.)

Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program

(SFMNP)

Over the last year, we have provided regular updates on our progress with the implementation of the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program in Greenwich. The following is a re-fresher on the collaborations, further context around the SFMNP as well as a status update for the Greenwich program.

Collaborators

Greenwich SFMNP Coordinating Team: Jewish Family Services (Geoffrey Anderson as facilitator), serves as the Town of Greenwich’s sole SFMNP Issuance Partner. GFA co-leads (Ali Ghiorse & Karen Saggese) provide technical assistance such as: communications and coordinating support as well as thought partnership.
Working Group Council: Rob Moore (GUW), Lori Contadino (Wallace Center), Vanessa Cardinal (Barbara’s House), Demetria Nelson (DHS)

About the SFMNP

The SFMNP provides funds for eligible participants to purchase fresh produce from Connecticut farmers. The funding is both federal and state and is allocated through the CT Department of Agriculture. SFMNP is designed to:

Provide low-income seniors with access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs.
Increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities through farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agricultural programs.
Aid in the development of new and additional farmers' markets and roadside stands.
The program starts on June 1st and ends in November.
SFMNP debit cards ($40 per month, per card) are accepted at the Greenwich and Old Greenwich Farmers' Market as the farmer opts-into the program, not the market.

Greenwich SFMNP Status Update

JFS currently facilitates a total of 36 eligible seniors (recipients) who are actively spending down their funding at markets.
In 2025 JFS identified a gap in transportation, some seniors expressed the need for a ride to and from the farmers’ market.
SFMNP coordinating team is in discussion with Call-A-Ride about setting up a regular pick up, every Wednesday at a pre-agreed upon time and location for a ride from the recipients home to the Old Greenwich Farmers’ Market (OGFM). (The OGFM is located at St Catherine of Siena Church, 4 Riverside Ave. every Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

WE have the power to be food system changemakers.