b'The project was created by a group ofThese are the types of collaborations volunteers who wanted to see more localwere seeing by connecting local schools food available in area restaurants. TheyAn important rolewith local and state resources, notes discovered one of the main challengesTasoulas.for farmers, restaurant owners andof the MFCC is toA broader missionschool food service directors hasadvocate for policyAn important role of the MFCC is to been the ordering, gathering and distribution of product on a local scale.in support of theadvocate for policy in support of the It isnt cost effective for farmers tocoalitions priorities locally, statewide deliver small amounts of product tocoalitions prioritiesand nationally. A policy group meets one location, plus it is too complicated,locally, statewide andmonthly, says Tasoulas.and time-consuming, for buyers toThe MFCCs policy platform was coordinate orders from too many sources.nationally. presented at the September forum at By simplifying the process, MonadnockStonewall Farm. The discussion focused Menus provides a critical piece of theon agricultural zoning laws in the city infrastructure puzzle that makes buyingof Keene and on updates to the states local easier. It was an opportunity to learn fromright-to-farm statute and how it impacts Last year, the first year of the program,each other and create new partnerships,the region. was about building partnerships andsays Roe-Ann Tasoulas, coalition directorPolicy change that supports increased starting a network, says Littleton; thefor MFCC.The winter forum focused onaccess to local food, says Tasoulas, will program made $5,000. CCCD staff wereN.H. Farm-to-School Program opportunitiescatapult the Monadnock Region to be figuring who the interested farmers, foodand how school staff and parents cana place where every child can enjoy producers, buyers and transportationsupport them. Educators from several areafresh fruits and vegetables in their providers were who would make it allschool districts, classroom teachers andhomes and at school; where worksites, work, she says. school nurses attended the forum. Topicsrestaurants and institutions offer an ever This year has been about getting thediscussed included how to incorporategrowing selection of local food and service up and running. Volunteers workclassroom gardens, the Harvest of thewhere residents have creative enterprise with a network of local producers whoseMonth effort that swaps out unhealthyopportunities around farming and food products can be ordered wholesale onlinecafeteria menu items for healthier options,production. and are distributed weekly. So far this yearand developing relationships between sales are at $22,000 and climbing. schools and farmers. Were trying to hit $50,000, says Littleton. Were opening up small wholesale markets that werent happening before. Forums to gather and exchange ideasThe MFCC has hosted four popular quarterly forums on various topics related to local farming this year. The spring forum brought beginner and established farmers together to talk about coordinating resources in the community and to discuss issues such as land access, acquiring farm loans, building farm infrastructure, resource stewardship and marketing opportunities. State representatives of the Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service were on hand at that forum. www.healthymonadnock.org 9'