1. Farmer Trainings & Learning Opportunities
  2. Ready to Sell

Ready to Sell

Farmer stands behind their produce that was prepared for taste testing with school children.

Deadline to Apply: October 24, 2026

Ready to Sell (to Schools)

The ‘Ready-to-Sell’ cohort for SY 2026-2027 runs for 11 months with the goal for participating farms to make lasting and sustained relationships with school districts for improved and increased sales. This timeline is a snapshot of the farmer’s commitment toward this goal.  Participation in the following activitiesis required, however participants that are FSMA Compliant or GAP Certified are exempt from the food safety training component. Please reach out with any questions or concerns about fulfilling these commitments.  
Although this timeline is relatively set, event dates are subject to change due to weather and speaker or school staff limitations. One-on-one technical assistance will be scheduled at a convenient time that works for each participant farmer.  

Timeline

November/December 

  • Cohort Orientation lunchtime meeting, virtual (1 hour)
    • Week of November 9
    • Required, virtual on TEAMS
  • School cafeteria field trips (famers will need to attend one)
    • Week of November 16
    • Week of December 7

January

  • Farmer attends in-person meetings with school district buyers and UConn Extension Farmer Liaison + Regional Farm to School Coordinator 
    • 1–3 in person meetings with interested districts (4-6 hours)
  • Small Cohort TA meetings (virtual or in person), if needed related to region and/or product sales opportunities (up to 2 hours, virtual)

February

  • Food Safety Training (mandatory)
    • Session 1: Thursday, Feb 4 (virtual, 2 hours)—tentative
    • Session 2: Thursday, Feb 11 (in-person, 8:30–noon)—tentative
  • Submit food safety self-evaluation tools to UConn Extension Farmer Liaison
  • Follow up meetings with schools to finalize forward purchasing plans and draft contracts (as agreed upon) 

March 

  • On farm visit with UConn to review planned purchasing and food safety improvement plan (2–3 hours)

April/May 

  • Finalize purchase plans with schools, complete any needed paperwork for school vendor requirements (e.g. W-9, Insurance)
  • Finalize food safety SOP’s and improvements 
  • Order food safe harvest and delivery materials (cost share with UConn Extension) 
  • Check in with school district buyer to provide update on crop conditions or changes 

June-September 

  • Sales and delivery of products to schools 
  • One-on-one farm visit with UConn Extension Farmer Liaison (optional) 
  • Apply for CT Grown for CT Kids grant (optional) 

October 

  • CT Grown for CT Kids Week: Farmers celebrate your farm to school participation through a classroom or cafeteria visit (required) 
  • Farmer completes post program evaluation

Training Coordinator

Photo of Training Coordinator Shannon Raider Ginsburg

Shannon Raider Ginsburg
shannon.raider@uconn.edu

Shannon has extensive experience aligning local agriculture, food justice, and education. As a farmer, Shannon has worked all manner of farms from larger certified organic CSA operations to 450-acre Christmas tree farms, to community gardens and urban agriculture. She has developed farmers markets, mobile markets, run her own small farm business and managed agricultural education programs. Shannon has worked with Extension on developing and implementing Farm to School procurement resources since 2017. Meeting the growing school market is a great way to scale up your farm business.

2025–26 Ready to Sell Farms

  • CT Farm Direct, James Malchow, Greenwich
  • Clovernook Farm, Lars Demander, Bethany
  • Daffodil Hill Growers, Sara Blersch, Southbury
  • DeSantis Farm , Joann DeSantis , Watertown
  • Jasian Greens & More LLC, Karen Parnther, Hartford
  • Lapsley Orchard, Patricia and John Wolchesky, Pomfret
  • Maple Bank Farm, Kirby Peters, Roxbury
  • Steadfast Farms, Jared McCool, Bethlehem
  • Stonington Kelp Co., Suzie Flores, Stonington
  • Sweet Acre Farm, Jonathan Janeway, Lebanon
  • Thy Neighbors Farm, Steven Thompson, Torrington 
  • Wheeler Brook Farm, Audra Hull, Pawcatuck

Pilot Year Farms

  • Conundrum Farm, Sarah Lang, Kent
  • Daigle Farm, Dillon Daigle and Cassidy Ball, Brooklyn
  • Hungry Reaper Farm, Will O’Meara and Jill Verzino, Morris
  • Lathrop Farm, Mia Colasuonno & Andrew Lathrop, Lebanon
  • Laurel Glen Farm, Victoria and Randy Rogowski, Shelton
  • Micro2Life Farm, Emmanuel Marte and Zania Johnson, Bloomfield
  • Oxen Hill Farm, Lisa Griffen, East Granby
  • Sunset Farm, Kaitlin Kimball, Naugatuck