To assess the impacts of our work, since 2009 online and phone surveys of New Hampshire farmers and food service directors have been conducted asking them about their farm-to-school sales, purchases, needs, interests, and challenges. The surveys not only help guide our work but also give a good overview picture of our successes and opportunities for growth and improvement.

In fall 2012 we released a report detailing findings and trends from our 2009, 2010 and 2011 surveys. (Download the full report.) Highlights include:

• More farms are participating in NHFTS, and they want to do even more. Farms involved tripled from 20 in 2009 to 60 in 2011.
• Economic times are tough,b ut schools are still spending on local foods.
• The diversity of local foods schools purchase is growing.
• Schools are doing more to educate students about local, healthy eating.
• Schools still face challenges to buying and serving local foods.
• Schools more NHFTS resources, especially workshops.