Frequently Asked Questions:

2022 Farm to School State Agency Meeting and Grantee Gathering

General

Accommodations

• Q: Are room and board included in the registration fee?
  • A: No, the registration fee does not include the cost of room and board. We recommend you make accommodations at the Revere Hotel Boston Commons. This is where the event will be held, and they are offering a discounted group rate of $259 plus tax. Some meals will be provided throughout the conference and are included in your registration costs.
• Q: When is the last day I can reserve my hotel room at the group rate at the Revere Hotel?
  • A: Last day to reserve your hotel reservation at the group rate is September 9, 2022.
• Q: What is the hotel's credit/debit card policy?
  • A: The hotel accepts credit and debit cards with security chips as payment and deposits. Payment cards will be authorized for the full amount of your stay plus a $150 incidental hold at check in. 
• Q: What time is check-in and does the hotel offer early check-in?
  • A: The Revere Hotel guaranteed check-in time is 4:00PM but they offer early check-in based on room availability. 

1. Transportation
   • Q: Is transportation included in the registration costs?
     • A: No, transportation is not included in the registration fee.
   • Q: Is there a shuttle service to and from Logan International Airport from the hotel?
     • A: No, while they do not provide shuttle service, the front desk team can call you a taxi, and the hotel concierge can schedule private transportation upon request from the hotel. Logan International Airport is about a 15-minute drive from the hotel. 
   • Q: Where can I park at the Revere Hotel Boston Common?
     • A: The hotel offers convenient self-parking for $42 a night. Please contact the hotel for further information: Revere Hotel | Contact Us.
2. Accessibility
   • Q: Is the Hotel and venue handicap accessible?
     • A: Yes, please refer to the hotel website for further accessibility details.
3. Cancellations
   • Q: Can I cancel my registration?
     • A: To completely cancel your registration, please contact info@farmtoschoolgrathering.org by August 19, 2022 11:59 PM EST. Registrations will be canceled and a refund issued less a $75 processing fee. Registration cancellation after August 19th, 2022 will be forfeited full registration fee. All registration cancellation requests must be in writing.
4. Attractions
   •  Q: What are closest Boston attractions to the hotel?
     • A: Located in downtown on the edge of the South End, Revere Hotel is within steps of iconic attractions like Boston Common, Boston Public Garden, Freedom Trail, and the Theater District. They are also close to the fashionable boutiques on Newbury Street and minutes of the city’s best shopping and dining at Prudential Center, Copley Place, and Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. 
   • Q: What are some attractions around the venue?
     • A: Check out these websites to view a list of attractions and activities:
       • THE 10 BEST Things to Do Near Boston Common
       • Top 10 Boston Attractions - Boston Discovery Guide
5. Budget
   • Q: How many people can attend from one organization?
     • A: Only one person from your grant team is required to attend the Gathering. We encourage the person most engaged in the day-to-day activities of the project be selected as this year’s attendee.
   • Q: Who should attend the Gathering from our team?
     • A: The person most engaged in the day-to-day activities of the project should be selected as this year’s Gathering attendee.
   • Q: I have already budgeted two people to attend, can the additional person still attend?
     • A: Due to capacity limitations, only one person can attend. Please work with your Regional Farm to School Specialist if you need to revise your budget to reflect this change.
   • Q: Where can I find more information on budget changes?
     • A: Please contact your Regional Farm to School Specialist for more information here
   • Q: If we pay out of pocket, can we send another person to attend?
     • A: The capacity at the event venue is limited. Therefore, one person from each grantee organization should attend. If you have further questions about attendance, please contact your Regional Farm to School Specialist to discuss your specific situation.  

7. Registration Queries

• Q: How much is the registration fee? 
  • A: Please see registration fee list below: 

  • State Agency Staff: This registration category is for attendees at the two day 2022 State Agency Meeting designed to provide state-level farm to school coordinators and relevant state staff directly engaged in farm to school with the opportunity to share best practices, attend facilitated networking sessions, and strategy planning. Fee $300

  • FY 2022 Farm to School Grantee: This category is for attendees of the two and a half day 2022 Farm to School Grantee Gathering, which is an annual event that brings together newly awarded Farm to School grantees, Food and Nutrition Service staff, and other national farm to school stakeholders to provide the resources grantees need to complete a successful project. Fee $425

  • State Agency & FY 2022 Farm to School Grantee: This registration category is for State Agency Meeting attendees who are also Farm to School State Agency grantees attending both events. $Fee 500

  • Speaker/Resource Fair Attendee/Guest: This category is for those attending a single day of the Grantee Gathering as a speaker, Resource Fair Partner, or other FNS invited guests. Fee Wednesday or Thursday: $200, Friday: $100

• Q: What does the fee include?
  • A: The fee includes conference materials and catered breakfast, lunch and snacks throughout the conference. Attendees will have free time in the evening to explore Boston. Evening meals are not included in the registration.
• Q: Why are there different fees?
  • A: Fees differ due to conference type and length. This year the Farm to School Program will be hosting a day long State Agency Meeting along with a two-and-a-half-day annual Grantee Gathering.
• Q: How do I register?
  • A: Please register using this link [insert link]. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please reach out to your Regional Farm to School Specialist.
  •  USDA Farm to School Staff  
• Q: When is the deadline to register?
  • A: The deadline to register for the State Agency Meeting is September 20^th, 2022, and September 21^st, 2022 for the Grantee Gathering.
• Q: What payment types are acceptable?
  • A: Credit Cards are the preferred mode of payments. Contact infofarmtoschoolgathering.org for alternative payment options.

• Q: When is the last day to cancel my registration?
  • A: To completely cancel your registration, please contact info@farmtoschoolgathering.org by August 19, 2022. Registration will be canceled and a refund will be issued less a $75 processing fee. Registration cancellation after August 19, 2022 will be forfeited full registration fee. All registration cancellation must be in writing.

Workshops/Agenda

• Q: How can I access the list of workshops, presentations, and trainings?
  • A: For further information on workshops, presentations, and trainings, please visit the agenda listed on the registration website. 
• Q: Who are the presenters?
  • A: For further information on presenters please visit the agenda listed on the event website. 
• Q: What other resources are available to me?
  • A: Farm to School Program Website
  • National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization

Grantee Gathering Site Visits

• Q: Where will the site visits take place? 
  • Red’s Best: Boston Fish Pier
    • Hear from Jamey Lionette, Red’s Best’s Director of Sustainable Seafood, as he shares about the ways in which Red’s Best supports sea to school efforts in New England. September is peak tuna season and be prepared to see the catch up close!
  • Codman Academy Charter School and Codman Square Health Center: Dorchester, MA
    • Codman Academy is a charter school focused on food and social justice as well as urban agriculture. Join Chetna Naimi, Codman Acadmey’s Partnership Director, for a fun and interactive tour of the school’s garden and an overview of their farm to school program.
  • Lowell Public Schools: Lowell, MA
    • Food service staff will share their approach to incorporating local food on the menu. Join Maggie Nowak, Food and Nutrition Manager, to learn about this program as well as in the school garden to learn about the middle school science and social studies curriculum.
  • Holly Hill Farm: Cohasset, MA
    • Holly Hill Farm is a certified organic farm that utilizes regenerative farming practices. In this visit, we will observe a class for 3-5 year-olds. Come prepared to discuss best practices for Farm to ECE!
  • Smithfield Public Schools: Smithfield, RI
    • Ride the smoothie bicycle at Smithfield Public Schools! From mobile carts to take-home kits with local ingredients, you’ll leave inspired to harness the power of storytelling in your classrooms, cafeterias, and communities. 
  • Royalton-Hartland School District: On-site Virtual Site Visit Option
    • The Royalton-Hartland School District is in a predominantly rural area in eastern Niagara County, New York. In a documentary-style feature, learn about Royalton-Hartland’s comprehensive farm to school programming and participate in an live, interactive Q&A with the district superintendent and food service director. This virtual site visit will take place at the conference hotel.
• Q: Will transportation to the site visits be provided?
  • A: Yes, transportation to and from the sites will be provided. Please see the agenda for the scheduled site visit times 
• Q: Can I select which site to visit?
  • A: You can choose your site visit location during registration. If your site of choice is filled, you will be placed on a wait list and assigned to another location with available space.
• Q: Can I change my site visit selection?
  • A:  No, once a site visit selection is made during registration there will be no change to your itinerary.

• Q: I can no longer attend the conference. Can I make a name substitution?
  • A: Substitution of registrants may be made by September 7th by emailing info@farmtoschoolgathering.org.

Health and Safety

• Q: What are the health and safety measures put in place?
  • A: For your safety, all attendees are encouraged to wear a face mask in all public areas of the hotel. Mask wearing will be determined by USDA and Massachusetts state guidelines, so policy is subject to change. We also encourage practicing responsible social distancing. It is not possible to protect against the presence of the disease. Therefore, if you choose to attend this event, you may be exposing yourself to and/or increasing your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. 
• Q: What do I do if I test positive for COVID-19 before the conference? Will I be refunded?
  • A: Attendees with a positive COVID-19 test will not permitted to attend the Gathering. Refunds will not be issued due to a positive COVID-19 test. Please see: Cancellations