By Anupama Joshi, NFSN Co-Founder and Executive Director  

After 11 fulfilling years with the National Farm to School Network (NFSN), I will be transitioning out of my role in December 2018 to take on an exciting new challenge. I am grateful for the trust and encouragement that NFSN’s Partners, members and supporters have provided for establishing and leading this phenomenal network that has shaped the farm to school movement for more than a decade, and will undoubtedly continue to be a strong force in advocating for healthy children, farmers and communities.

Reflecting on my farm to school journey, which began in 2002, I could not have hoped for anything more rewarding than the people and partnerships that I have experienced through NFSN. I am honored to have played a small part in the larger impact we have made in the lives of children, farmers, and communities across the country.

At NFSN, I leave behind a legacy of incredibly strong partnerships that have framed farm to school as an unprecedented national success story in the good food movement - impacting 24 million children in more than 42,000 K-12 and early care and education settings, and moving $800 million in local products to fuel local economies. The commitment, innovation and vision of countless farm to school advocates and stakeholders have been critical in this success. Together, we successfully advocated for the recognition and institutionalization of farm to school at USDA through the first ever federal farm to school grant program in 2010, and development of the Farm to School Census; and for policies in more than 46 states that are paving the way forward. NFSN’s core values of collaboration, transparency and partnership have kept farm to school Growing Stronger Together!  

A Transition Committee has been convened by the NFSN Advisory Board to ensure a smooth transition in the coming months. Additional information about next steps will be shared with NFSN members in our monthly e-newsletter, as details become available.

A heartfelt thank you for being a part of my NFSN journey.

With gratitude,
Anupama