Sodexo helps grow East Hartford Public Schools’ award-winning Farm to School program through continued investment

Districtwide program continues to grow through dedicated leadership, stronger community partnerships and expanded student learning opportunities in local agriculture

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (July 17, 2026) — A partnership with East Hartford Public Schools and Sodexo, a global leader in food and services, is translating to continued growth of an innovative Farm to School program. One year after establishing a dedicated full-time leadership position, the program has increased access to local agriculture, nutrition education, exposure to new foods and sustainability experiences for students across the district.

Farm to School connects students with fresh, locally sourced foods and the people who grow them through experiences in the cafeteria, classroom and community. Through school gardens, nutrition lessons, cooking activities, local food tastings, farm visits and partnerships with local producers, the program helps students understand where their food comes from while building food literacy, supporting local agriculture and creating meaningful hands-on learning experiences. 

What began in 2013 as a single school garden at Goodwin Elementary School has grown into a districtwide model serving students from pre-kindergarten through high school. Today, the program connects students at 10 of the district’s 15 schools with school gardens, nutrition education, local food experiences and hands-on learning opportunities.

Since stepping into the Farm to School coordinator role in June 2025, Emma Fetridge has helped accelerate the program’s growth, expanding student programming, strengthening districtwide collaboration and advancing new initiatives that connect students with food, farming and sustainability. 

“Over the past year, we’ve built on an incredible foundation and expanded opportunities for students to experience Farm to School in even more meaningful ways,” Fetridge said. “Whether students are harvesting vegetables in school gardens, visiting local farms or trying a fresh food item for the first time, these experiences help students understand where food comes from while building lifelong healthy habits. We’re excited to continue growing the program alongside our schools and community partners.”

During the 2025–2026 school year, the Farm to School program expanded its reach across the district, achieving the following milestones:

• Delivered 377 nutrition and agriculture lessons reaching more than 1,000 students
• Hosted 47 student taste tests introducing locally sourced foods and new flavors
• Organized 18 educational field trips connecting students with local farms 
• Supported four active school gardens across the district 
• Expanded school garden and hydroponic programming 
• Collaborated with more than 35 community partners to support Farm to School initiatives

Over the years, Sodexo has partnered with East Hartford Public Schools to help secure more than $600,000 in external funding awards that have expanded the district’s Farm to School initiative. These investments have supported dedicated program leadership, culinary expertise, local food integration, school gardens, nutrition education and hands-on student learning experiences, helping advance the district’s vision for healthy, engaging school meals. 

The program’s innovative approach to advancing nutrition education, food literacy and student engagement has earned national recognition, including the Anita Owen Award of Recognition for Innovative Nutrition Education Programs for the Public from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in April 2026. The award recognized East Hartford’s unique approach to building food literacy through hands-on cooking experiences and nutrition education programming. The program was also honored with the USDA Healthy Meals Incentives Award in June 2025, presented in partnership with Action for Healthy Kids, recognizing schools for innovative improvements to meal quality and nutrition education.

Local partnerships remain a cornerstone of the program’s success. Farmers including Cold Spring Farm, Dzen’s Berry Farm, Handel Family Farm, Hastings Farm, Holcomb Farm and Forest Hill Farm provide locally sourced ingredients, host student visits and help students understand the connection between agriculture and the food on their plates. Additional partners, including the University of Connecticut’s Dietetics Program, UConn Extension, the UConn Rudd Center, Distinctive Ideas and other community organizations, support nutrition education, program development and student engagement.

“The success of our Farm to School program reflects what is possible when our schools, families, community partners, and organizations come together around a clear and shared purpose for students,” said Thomas Anderson, Superintendent of East Hartford Public Schools. “With the support and partnership of Sodexo, this work is about more than a single program. It reflects our broader commitment to supporting the whole child by creating meaningful experiences that connect academic learning with student health and well-being through quality engagement, leading to long-term success.”

Looking ahead, East Hartford Public Schools will continue expanding Farm to School programming through increased high school engagement, including hydroponic growing, beekeeping and additional opportunities for students to explore agriculture, sustainability and nutrition.

To learn more about the Farm to School program, visit www.easthartford.org/departments/food_services/farm_to_school_program.

To learn more about Sodexo U.S., visit us.sodexo.com.

About Sodexo North America

Sodexo North America is a division of Sodexo Group, a global leader in food and services shaping better everyday experiences at every moment in life: work, heal, learn and play. Operating in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, Puerto Rico and Guam, Sodexo North America is committed to meeting the challenges of everyday life with a dual goal: to improve the quality of life of our employees and those we serve, and to contribute to the economic, social and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo Group stands out for its independence, its founding family shareholding and its responsible business model. Sodexo is included in the CAC Next 20, CAC SBT 1.5, FTSE 4 Good and DJSI indices.

About East Hartford Public Schools

East Hartford Public Schools (EHPS), located in East Hartford, Connecticut, serves approximately 6,200 prekindergarten through grade 12 students through a comprehensive public education program committed to student growth and academic excellence. EHPS empowers every learner to reach their full potential by delivering a high-quality learning experience for every child, every day. With a vision of schools that are the pride of the community, EHPS values strong partnerships with families, staff, and the broader community to support all students and their future success.

Contact: publicrelations.usa@sodexo.com