2026 Fall Event Calendar

September 17 | 2:00-3:00PM EST | Virtual
Northeast Food for Schools Challenge (DESE) [Register]
Presenters: Abby Getman Skillicorn, School Nutrition Program Manager, Massachusetts Farm to School & Maggie Nowak, Local Foods Specialist, DESE 

The Northeast Food for Schools Challenge is a voluntary program designed to elevate school nutrition programs for their local sourcing, and support their compliance with the Buy American Provision buy providing access to data tracking software at no cost to the district. Learn how to register for the program, participation details, and how the Northeast Food for Schools Challenge can help school nutrition operators highlight their accomplishments within their communities. 

September 24 | 2:00-3:00PM EST | Virtual
Creating a Competitive Terrific Tray (DESE) [Register]
Presenters:  Maggie Nowak, Food Specialist, DESE & Mistelle Hannah, Food Service Director, Northampton Public Schools

Join last year’s Terrific Tray of the Year winner to learn about how to plan compelling and competitive Terrific Trays. Terrific Trays must include local items, with a strong preference for culturally reflective and scratch made menu components. Learn how to build a compelling tray so your images and menus score highly in the competitive evaluation. This presentation will include a review of the scoring rubric evaluators use to select Terrific Trays. 

September 29 | 2:00-3:30PM EST | Virtual
How To Be a Farm to School Advocate [Register]
Presenter: Amy Shollenberger, Founder, Action Circles

Farm to School Month is the perfect time to use your voice to advocate for farm to school programs. Join us as we welcome Amy Shollenberger, founder of Action Circles, for an interactive session that will prepare you to be an effective farm to school champion. From hosting public officials to making legislator phone calls, you’ll leave this session ready to contribute to the Massachusetts Food for Massachusetts Kids campaign in a way that works for you. 

October 6 | 4:00-5:30PM EST | Lowell, MA
Seed Saving at Mill City Grows [Register]
Presenter: Mandy Weaver, Education Coordinator, Mill City Grows

Join Mass. Farm to School and Mill City Grows for a no-cost, hands-on workshop that equips educators with practical seed-saving skills for the classroom and school garden. Learn techniques for collecting, cleaning, processing, and storing seeds from both dry-seeded plants and fleshy fruits to preserve their viability for years to come. Explore age-appropriate activities that make seed saving engaging and educational for students. Perfect for K–12 teachers, garden coordinators, environmental educators, and afterschool program leaders—no prior experience is needed.

October 7 | 3:30-4:30PM EST | Virtual
Mapping the Food System [Register]
Presenter: Dinah Mack, Education Program Manager, Massachusetts Farm to School 

What are some ways to introduce students to where food comes from and the many people and processes involved in getting food from farms to our tables? Food system mapping encourages students to think critically and creatively as they make connections through hands-on learning and discussion. Leave with practical strategies and ready-to-use resources that support science, social studies, and sustainability learning in the elementary classroom.

October 22 | 2:00-4:00PM EST | Boston, MA
CommonWealth Kitchen Tour [Register]

Are you wondering where that Massachusetts Marinara on your USDA foods guide is coming from? Take a tour of CommonWealth Kitchen, the Boston-based commercial kitchen and social enterprise on a mission to transform the food system and bring more local, values-aligned foods to school cafeterias. You’ll see the 12,000 sq ft kitchen where their manufacturing takes place and have the opportunity to share your ideas for what products they should focus on next.

October 28 | 2:00-3:00PM | Virtual
Compost, Conserve, Connect: Reducing Food Waste [Register]
Presenter: Sonja Williams, Green Team/CET

School-wide composting and food waste reduction are powerful strategies for creating more sustainable and cost-effective school nutrition programs. This workshop will provide school food service professionals with practical guidance on implementing or strengthening composting systems, reducing food waste through everyday operations, and engaging students and staff in sustainable practices. Participants will leave with actionable strategies, tools for identifying food waste reduction opportunities, and the knowledge to build a successful school-wide composting program that supports both environmental and educational goals.

November 4 | 3:30-4:30PM | Virtual
Teaching About Food Waste [Register]
Presenter: Sonja Williams, Program Specialist, CET/Green Team & Classroom Teachers

Learn practical strategies and engaging activities to help students understand the causes and impacts of food waste while promoting sustainable habits. Explore hands-on, age-appropriate lessons that encourage students to investigate where food is wasted at home, at school, and in their communities. Participants will leave with classroom-ready ideas to inspire students to take meaningful actions that reduce food waste and support a healthier planet.

November 18 | 3:30-4:30PM EST | Virtual
Funding Your Farm To School Program [Register]
Presenters: Dinah Mack, Education Program Manager & Abby Getman Skillicorn, Special Projects Manager, Massachusetts Farm to School 

Discover practical strategies for finding and securing funding to start, sustain, or expand your farm to school program. This workshop will cover a variety of funding sources, including grants, partnerships, fundraising, and community resources, as well as tips for developing a strong funding plan. Participants will leave with the skills to identify funding opportunities, align program goals with funder priorities, and build a diversified funding strategy to support long-term success.

December 2 | 3:30-4:30PM EST | Virtual
Food Systems Across the Curriculum [Register]
Presenter: Elizabeth Kaplan, K–8 Math & Science Leader & Farm to School Coordinator, Watertown Public Schools

Discover ways to integrate food systems concepts into literacy, math, science, social studies, and the arts through standards-aligned, hands-on learning. Explore engaging lessons that help students make real-world connections while building critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills. Participants will leave with practical, classroom-ready activities and cross-curricular resources that make it easy to incorporate food systems education throughout the school year.

December 10 | 2:00-3:00PM EST | Virtual
Collaborative Procurement/GRO42 [Register]
Presenters: Jeanne Johnson, Food Service Director for Dedham Public Schools, Colin Boisvert, Operations Director for Franklin Public Schools, and a representative from the Massachusetts Operational Services Division