In the summer of 2017, I set out on a road trip from Monterrey, Mexico, to Toronto, Canada, filming a documentary series on North American local food initiatives. During this 4,800-kilometer (3,000-mile) journey, my co-creator and I had the privilege of meeting dozens of farmers, small-business owners, community organizers, and food advocates who shared an...Read More

This beautifully illustrated step by step guide, available in both official languages, was designed specifically to support school communities and the local food supply sector in their efforts to advance Farm to School in New Brunswick. While the guide was developed with NB in mind, it draws upon the latest, most innovative approaches and tools...Read More

A beautiful 8-minute documentary sharing how the people of Haida Gwaii have come together through a Learning Circle to transform the systems that feed their kids. This video showcases the efforts of the Haida Gwaii Local Foods to School initiatives that are bringing local foods and traditions into schools by connecting students and staff with...Read More

This report,  Alternative Avenues to Local Food in Schools: Ingredients for Success, provides the current school food context in 3 regions, Durham, Peel, and Thunder Bay, details 7 pilot projects, and includes 8 “Ingredients for Success” or guidelines for implementing local food projects that resulted from the pilots. As you continue to bring local food...Read More

This fact sheet offers a research-based overview of the benefits of farm to school and provides a list of sources.  Stated benefits are provided under 5 themes:  (1) Economic Development (Job Creation and Economic Activity; Farmer and Producer Income), (2) Public Health (Student Nutrition Behaviors; Knowledge, Attitudes and Access), (3) Education (Student Engagement and Academic...Read More

Photo: Tomavo on Mountain Road in Moncton tries hard to stock as much local produce as it can. Image: Tomavo Facebook page. MONCTON – Businesses are teaming up with non-profit organizations, government agencies, public institutions, community groups and farmers to get healthy, low-cost, local food onto the plates of New Brunswickers. The ways local businesses are trying...Read More

Image: The purpose of Farm to School Month is to promote the importance of farm to school activities in helping to improve child nutrition, support local economies and connect children and communities with the source of their food.  October is a busy month for both our nation’s farms and our nation’s schools. Farmers are harvesting...Read More

Farm to Cafeteria Canada – Grant Report from Forest Grove Elementary – Spring Event Forest Grove Elementary in Burnaby, BC was the grant recipient of $1,500 from Farm to Cafeteria Canada in 2016 where funds used needed to connect students to local food producers (gardeners, farmers, chefs, bakers or cheese makers etc.) On June 6,...Read More

In 2016, the Government of New Brunswick launched its Local Food and Beverage Strategy, Buy/Achetez NB.  Among the strategy’s objectives was improved availability of local food and beverages.  Including more local products in schools was identified as an opportunity to that end.  As a result, one of the key actions identified within the strategy was...Read More

Here at Meal Exchange we are celebrating the success of one of our favourite events of the year, the National Student Food Summit!  Thes annual national gatherings  to support and empower students on college and university campuses across Canada to take an active role in creating a just, sustainable, and resilient food system, and the...Read More