Research is needed to develop sustainable relationships between farmers willing to grow and sell produce, the Syracuse City School District (SCSD), processors, aggregators, and other actors in the greater Farm to School landscape. Collaboration across the food system and among community partners to get fresh food into Syracuse schools is under-researched and historically unimplemented. Sourcing school food locally and establishing a robust Farm to School program in Syracuse could have the power to dramatically alter not only the food available to children in schools, but also to foster deeper connections with Central New York farmers and build community around food within the region.

SCG collaborated with the SCSD through design and implementation of a producer survey to gauge interest and capacity for Farm to School participation, supported the USDA Brady Farm to School grant, built a database, and planned and co-hosted information sessions for interested farmers.