Sadly, Friday was Tom Brewton's, our lead of Institutional Sales, last day at Food Connects.

We are so grateful for Tom’s contributions to the Food Hub and the Farm to School Community across VT, NH, and MA. And we're not the only ones - Tom was recently recognized as a Southern Vermont Emerging Leader! In celebration, and to send him off with lots of love, we threw him a going-away lunch complete with an award presentation, and pasta by vendor Trenchers Farmhouse.

Since Tom joined us in 2021, he has focused on increasing regional food sales to institutions throughout New England. In VT alone, Tom onboarded 60+ institutional customers, ensuring access to delicious and nutritious food in public & private schools, colleges, hospitals, and senior living facilities.

Additionally, Tom has testified multiple times at the VT Statehouse, advocating for several key legislative initiatives that have increased local food sales in schools. As a result of his advocacy efforts in VT, he has also testified in both MA and NH to support access to local foods in schools. In March, Tom was invited by the National Farm to School Network to co-present alongside the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets to highlight Food Connects' involvement and successes with the Local Food for Schools Program - a one-time program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide local food to schools at no cost.

Tom's impact on Vermont's local food movement, particularly within the education system, cannot be overstated. His work in providing nutritious, regionally sourced food to students has left an indelible mark on countless communities across our state. While he will be deeply missed at Food Connects, we are excited to see the positive changes he will undoubtedly bring to the food landscape of his next destination, Pennsylvania. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.