Growing Healthy Futures for All Children
Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) incorporates the three core elements of local procurement, gardens, and food and Agriculture education to advance health and wellbeing, engages families and communities, and enhances the quality of the ECE setting. For a helpful Infographic of this work, see the 2018 National Farm to Early Care and Education Survey
Looking to get started with Farm to ECE?
The National Farm to School Network and the Connecticut Department of Public Health have put together your to go guides for starting your Farm to ECE program. Download the documents below to help you in your Farm to ECE journey.
Farm to Early Childhood in New England (FINE)
FINE is excited to announce the publication of Farm to Early Childhood in New England: an Ecosystem Assessment. This illustrated and interactive overview of the farm to early childhood space across the six New England states was designed to help regional interest holders better understand the early childhood sector and to identify the key opportunities for expanding farm to early childhood activity across the six New England states. This assessment is part of the Northeast Farm to Early Childhood Project, a collaborative effort of Farm to Institution New England and the Northeast Farm to School Collaborative.
CT Grown for Kids Week!
CT Grown for CT Kids Week is an annual event happening every October in Connecticut. Scheduled the first full week in October, this week aims to celebrate and support local agriculture, public education and our community commitment to the importance of healthy nutritious meals in schools. Each year, legislators, food service directors, farmers and students gather together through farm to school activities and consumption of local products. Multiple organizations across the state support this effort to help their local schools bring CT Grown for CT Kids Week into classrooms and the home. To find more ways to celebrate farm to school visit farmtoschool.org!
CT Grown for CT Kids Grant
A statewide grant program to help establish and further Farm-to-School programs through Connecticut schools. Passed in the 2021 legislative session, the CT Grown for CT Kids Grant is a statewide grant program to help establish and further farm-to-school initiatives. The maximum grant award will be $50,000 for a project of up to 24 months in duration.
Significant funding for Farm to Early Care projects is available! Visit CT Grown for CT Kids Grant for more information.
Farm to Early Care Survey Results
In 2024 Connecticut Department of Public Health and UConn Extension conducted a survey to learn how early care and education (ECE) providers are providing food for snacks and meals for children under their care, with specific interest in local farm fresh products served.
Go NAPSACC
Go NAPSACC enhances state-level efforts to foster early care and education (ECE) environments that promote children's well-being through tailored support for ECE programs and consultants and an online suite of tools and resources. Visit the Go NAPSACC website.
Best Practices include:
- Local Foods Provided
- Gardening
- Education & Professional Development
- Policy
"Connecting a farmer to the child care centers has been an amazing experience for the children, parents and center staff. The children so enjoy visiting the farmers market to pick up their weekly food order, but the real excitement comes when they get to unpack the produce box and discover what's inside. Adding Farm to ECE has opened up a whole new world of science and nature exploration for the children and I am thrilled to be able to assist the directors, teachers and chefs as they expand their classroom nutrition education to include Farm to ECE-"
Patty, Early Childhood Health and Wellness Specialist, Randolph County