Food Connects Welcomes New Development Manager

Food Connects is excited to welcome Vickie Case to their team as their new Development Manager. Vickie’s work will connect the organization to more community members, businesses, and organizations throughout the region and strengthen its annual fund program.

Vickie joined the Food Connects team in early February and previously worked at Retreat Farm. She is excited to help grow and fortify both Food Connects Farm to School and Food Hub programs. “What piqued my interest in Food Connects was the Farm to School Program and the impact it has on kids and school staff throughout our community... It is strengthened by the Food Hub while supporting local farms and farmers bringing nutritious choices to the school lunch programs.”

Food Connects plays a vital community-building role in Windham County and the Monadnock Region through advocating for a more resilient food system and bringing farmers closer to their neighbors. Vickie will serve a vital role in engaging more businesses and organizations in Food Connects’ food system work.  “My hope for Food Connects is that it continues to grow and directly impacts our community by raising awareness of the importance of supporting and sustaining our local food system,” says Case. “In my position as Development Manager, I see it as my responsibility and mission to help businesses understand Food Connects and how they can help support our efforts.”

And the Food Connects team is grateful to have Case’s experience and community presence to nurture its community partners’ growth. “Vickie’s passion for the mission is contagious,” says Richard Berkfield, Food Connects Executive Director. “And her experience brings new, valuable leadership to the growth of our organization and increasing impact in the communities we work in.”

Food Connects is an entrepreneurial non-profit that delivers locally produced food as well as educational and consulting services aimed at transforming local food systems. The Food Hub aggregates and delivers from over 115 local farms and food producers to over 195 buyers in southeast Vermont, southwest New Hampshire, and western Massachusetts. Their educational services focus on Farm to School programming. Acknowledged as a statewide leader, the program supports over 30 schools to increase local food purchasing, school meal participation, and food, farm, and nutrition education. Together these core programs contribute to a vibrant local economy by increasing local food purchases by schools and improving students’ nutrition and academic performance. Additionally, Food Connects is frequently hired to provide leadership and consulting services for efforts aimed at transforming local food systems in the New England region.