Connecticut

Put Local on Your Tray

Put Local on Your Tray is a UConn Extension farm to school project providing values-based procurement technical assistance and support for relationship building between schools and Connecticut farmers. They made a commitment to transform their network by building strong relationships with BIPOC-led organizations and communities to integrate and represent them within their educational materials and communications. 

Additionally, thanks to our partnership with Dawn Spears, a Narragansett artist, farmer, and educator from Ashawaug Farm, they’ve co-created a new campaign series centered around Indigenous/Native American foodways.  They created field trip opportunities in Southern New England to visit Indigenous-led organizations in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut to deepen relationships, expand the network, and represent these communities in educational materials and communications.

What This Looks Like in Connecticut’s Work:

• Integrating Spanish language by offering bilingual educational materials

• Incorporating Juneteenth celebrations into their spring campaign featuring strawberries and greens

• Working with Mohegan chef and herbalist, Akitusut -Rachel Sayet, to create Cranberry Thanksgiving materials for their fall campaign

• A three-part seasonal Native Foodways Campaign Series and resources

• Visiting the Tomaquag Museum in Rhode Island, The Farm School in Massachusetts, and the Tantaquidgeon Museum in Connecticut

Questions? For more information about this project, contact Sherlene Rodriguez, UConn Extension Farm to School Specialist, at sherlene.rodriguez@uconn.edu.

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