Local Food in Connecticut

Local Food In Connecticut

Local Farms for Connecticut Communities

Supporting local is about more than what’s on the plate, it’s about strengthening Connecticut communities and inspiring the next generation. By partnering with local farms, colleges, and community organizations, we bring food education to life through farm-to-school experiences, nutrition education, farmer visits, school gardens, and seasonal menus featuring Connecticut-grown ingredients. Students learn where their food comes from, explore agriculture and sustainability, and develop lifelong healthy eating habits, while districts strengthen connections with local producers and invest in the state’s agricultural economy.

We continue to nurture partnerships directly with local farms while maximizing volume and variety by working with Connecticut’s top family-owned produce distributor. This ensures local, seasonal produce and ingredients are the first choice when planning our menus. Your on-site team will utilize locally focused order guides, forecasting tools and planning calendars to bring farm-fresh goodness to your cafeterias.

Connecticut Local Farms

Our network of Connecticut farm and producer partnerships demonstrates our commitment to supporting local. We are fully committed to each district’s local sourcing goals and will build a program that reflects your priorities while delivering the highest quality products for students. These partnerships increase access to fresh, seasonal ingredients while introducing students to the people and stories behind their food. From family farms to regional producers, we bring authenticity, variety, and meaningful community connections to every menu, all while maintaining the consistency, food safety, and reliable supply chain essential to a successful school nutrition program.

Chartwells districts purchase more than 76% of produce and dairy products from local farms.

1. Granby

Griffin Farmstead
Goat Cheese

2. Suffield

Northern Valley Farms
Corn

3. Enfield

Raffia Farms
Fall Squashes

4. Somers

Pell Farm
Raspberries, Strawberries

5. Eastford

Buell’s Orchards
Apples, Pears, Apple Cider, Candy and Caramel Apples

6. Storrs

Mountain Dairy
Cream, Milk

7. East Windsor

White Eagle Farm
Bell Peppers

8. New Hartford

Gresczyk Farms
Tomatoes, Potatoes, Baby Potatoes, Baby Lettuces

9. Windsor

Browns Harvest
Fall Squashes, Pumpkins,
Indian Corn, Hay Bales,
Corn Stalks, Mums

10. South Windsor

Bordua Farm
Corn, Squash, Pumpkins
Foster Farm
Corn, Squash, Pumpkin
Dzen Farms
Blueberries, Strawberries, Pumpkins
Baggott Family Farms
Green Squash, Yellow Squash, Corn, Peppers, Beans, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Tomatoes
Windsor Farms
Plum Tomatoes, Native Tomatoes, Green Peppers, Eggplant, Corn

11. Manchester

Botticello Farms
Assorted Vegetables

12. East Hartford

Burnham Farms
Handpicked Native Corn, Peppers, Tomatoes

13. Burlington

Lamothe’s Sugar House
Honey, Maple Syrup

14. Bantam

Vibrant Farms
Lettuce, Scallions, Kale, Carrots, Chard, Beets, Celery, Garlic, Onions, Cabbage, Raddicio, Frisse

15. Bethlehem

March Farms
Tomatoes, Corn

16. Woodbury

The Farm
Pumpkins, Gourds, Butternut, Acorn Squash

17. Southington

Rogers Orchards
Apples, Pears, Apricots, Nectarines, Peaches, Plums Karabin Farm
Assorted fruits & vegetables

18. Rocky Hill

Fair Weather Acres
Green Beans, Assorted Vegetables

19. South Glastonbury

Horton Farm
Tomatoes, Butternut,
Acorn Squash
Belltown Hill Orchard
Berries, Assorted Fruits, Preserves, Syrup
Bussa Orchards
Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums

20. Meriden

High Hills Orchard
Apples, Blueberries,
Pears, Peaches

21. Cheshire

Zentek Farms
Strawberries, Cabbage,
Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant,
Bell Peppers, Squash, Pumpkins, Tomatoes

22. Middlefield

Lyman Orchards
Apples, Berries, Peaches

23. Wallingford

Blue Hills Orchard
Apples, Pears, Apricots, Nectarines, Peaches, Plums

24. Hamden

Liuzzi Cheese
Cheese

25. Northford

Cecarelli’s Harrison Hill Farm Cabbage, Corn, Eggplant, Lettuce, Bell Peppers,
Peppers, Squash, Tomatoes
J. DeFrancesco & Son
Cucumbers, Eggplant,
Bell Peppers, Peppers,
Squash, Tomatoes

26. Guilford

H20 Farms
Hyrdo Butter Lettuce, Hydro Red Butter Lettuce

27. Gales Ferry

Holmberg Orchards
Apples, Pears, Peaches, Tomatoes

28. Preston

Lopresti Farms
Squash, Tomatoes, Corn, Peppers, Hot Peppers
Maple Lane Farms
Currant

29. Norwalk

High Ridge Hydroponics
Micro Greens

Farm to School Education

With the largest team of registered dietitians in the industry, Chartwells K12 is uniquely qualified to build on Farm to School best practices, adding nutrition education learning experiences in our cafeterias and classrooms. Local produce is incorporated into recipes that we sample at pop-up tasting events for Discovery Kitchen, Global Eats and Mood Boost. Each of these student engagement programs includes an education focus and a side of fun. Students learn:

Where their food comes from
Sustainability best practices
The growing cycle of fruits and vegetables, from seed to cafeteria tray
How different foods can affect your mood
Which local ingredients create culturally relevant flavors

IT DOESN’T GET ANY MORE LOCAL THAN THIS

Farmers Market

On-site farmers markets can help shape the way students select healthy foods outside of school. Students practice their math skills and learn about nutrition and financial transactions. These events can be held in outdoor tents set up to emulate traditional farmers markets or we can set up in a large indoor space with tables, baskets and farm decor. Chartwells K12 coordinates with local farms to supply the market with produce, and students are able to shop using play money, or “Veggie Bucks,” and bags to take home fresh vegetables and recipes. Our managers will be on hand to facilitate the fun and bring nutrition lessons to life. It’s a great event for kids, staff and the school community!