Farm to Cafeteria is an exciting new program designed to help agricultural producers and institutional cafeterias work together to provide farm-fresh healthy choices for school students, patients and other consumers, in and around Ontario County.

To find out what each of the participating farms produces and when it will be in season,

click on the name of the farm in the list. Presently there are 6 Ontario County cafeterias and 8 farms participating in the pilot stage of this program.  If you are a producer or institution, and would like to be included in this partnership, please contact Deb Denome at Seeking Common Ground.

The Canandaigua Lake Foodshed: Farm-to-Cafeteria program is a project of Seeking Common Ground in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County, Cornell's Farm-to-School program, Bloomfield Central School District, Happy Goat Farm and Rosecrest Farm.  The program is funded in large part by a grant from USDA Northeast SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education).

Farm to Cafeteria has been led by Seeking Common Ground with funding support from Northeast SARE. Cornell Cooperative Extension and participating farmers have joing Seeking Common Ground to successfully connect local farms with institutional cafeterias. For more information on Forming Farm-to-Cafeteria Connections in Your Community.


Farm to Cafeteria Update: Autumn Harvest Day
Our Spring Harvest Day was very successful!! Fresh, local strawberries were savored by the diners at all of our participating cafeterias.

We are now planning our Autumn Harvest Day for early-mid October. There is no hard and fast date, participating cafeterias can choose the date that best fits their schedule. Take advantage of the Fall produce available in our region of the Finger Lakes.

All cafeterias, of any size, are welcome to participate! All we ask is that each cafeteria serve multiple seasonal items, to highlight the bounty to be had at this time of year.

Possible menu selections for the Harvest Day: Apple crisp, coleslaw, roasted vegetables (carrots, potatoes, beets, etc.), pumpkin pie/pumpkin bread/just plain, mashed pumpkin, maybe slightly sweetened. Of course, there are no rules, and these are just suggestions. Be creative and enjoy!

We will provide posters for you to hang in your cafeterias, and fliers to post around the building/school and/or send home with students. There will be "Thank you" baskets of Finger Lakes goodies for all participating cafeterias.

Support our local farms and farmers and serve fresh, delicious, local produce in your cafeterias. Participate in our Autumn Harvest Day!

For more information, including a listing of all farms and available produce/products, please contact Deborah Muntner, Farm to Cafeteria Coordinator at (585) 393-9073 or dmuntner@hotmail.com