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Child Nutrition Home> Spring Farm to School Conference

JOIN the FARM to SCHOOL list serve today!

carrot

New England Region

FARM TO SCHOOL MEETING

was on May 9th

in

Sturbridge, MA

Hope you did not miss it!

Questions or information contact Dana Hudson  802-895-0381

 

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MAINE HARVEST DAY "MAINE"

WHEN: SEPTEMBER 17TH 2008

WHERE:  AT YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT

After receiving several comments and suggestions the “Maine Harvest Day – Maine” will September 17th,2008.  The name Maine Harvest Day will continue to be the name used by the State Agency.  However if your district participates the suggestion is use the same name and your district name.  “Maine Harvest Day –“district Name”

This does not have to be a crazy food preparation day.  Start small and work though it.  Maybe over one week you offer something daily and call it Maine Harvest Week.  The day has more then the purpose of serving Maine foods that day.

Other purposes are:
Establish contacts/relationships with Maine producers for future days.
This could be an ongoing partnership with Maine producers.  It would provide a good source of food and an outlet for the producer’s product.

Make students aware of Maine products on an on going bias
Some students think green beans come from a can.  Actual knowledge that product is from a bush, tree or root may not be understood.  They may not be aware what is actually produced in Maine.  How the food is prepared or eaten is part of the education.  Feed the student Maine products, educates the parent about Maine products.

Support your community/ local producers.
With all the talk about consolation and schools fearing losing local control, what better way to demonstrate local support and local control of the food service department?  Buy locally

REMEMBER
The cafeteria/ dining room is the biggest classroom in the school!!!

 

 

Many resources at the bottom of this page!

 

FARM to SCHOOL Sept 2007

This page contains lots of information and several starting points to start the project and or create side projects. Read down though the whole page for contact information and ideas. Come back in October to see and read about all the great projects. Got more ideas let me know Walter Beesley.

WHAT DID THE MEDAI SAY ABOT YOUR PROGRAM

Portland Press Herald article was much the same as Kennebec Journal

LOOK AT THIS

salad bar parents and student eating cook serving
Millinocket volunteer
MSAD 3 Parents and student
MSAD 03 Head Cook
salad bar 2
 people in vegie suits greenhouse
Fresh vegetable bar MSAD 22 Veggie adults Hoop House (Green House)
children on tractor children in veg custome tractor
MSAD 29 students as vegetables More SAD 29 vegetables
SAD 29 Tractor w/ banner in Background

 

If I didn't feel like Jed Clampett last night with 2 trucks full of produce, corn husks hanging all over the place, making deliveries to schools.  I definitely have to figure out a better delivery system!!
Christine

We are using local crab in a Stuff Portobello Mushroom Mark

In Sanford and Acton, we served Sloppy Joes made with ground beef, locally raised, ground yesterday.  The product was wonderful.  Holly

…I'm happy to report that all 11 schools in my district are participating.  I hope that next year, we will get more support from staff and administrators. I did have one teacher remark that this fit right into what she had been teaching her second graders!... Martha

We use Maine Shellfish/ Ellsworth. Ray

I am having fish chowder with fresh Maine Haddock.....Picked up at Gilmore’s Fish Market at 7:00 this morning.....

We are doing the farm day at Telstar high and middle schools and the elementary schools also here in Bethel JoAnn

Harvest Day started for me at school at 5:15.....I think it is a bonding day with the farmers.....Fresh Maine Fish Chowder......Looking forward to a fun day....Hope it goes well for all of us....

…We have partnered with Beth's Farm in Warren and we will be having native apples today with lunch in honor or Maine Harvest Lunch Day. …Woody

The elementary schools are really into it! Debbie

…Karen Baldacci will be visiting Foxcroft Academy on Wed. to recognize Maine Harvest Day. She will be speaking during assembly as well as meeting with some of our student leaders. 
We are planning on serving a couple of the recipes you shared with us on that day.
Rhonda

All my schools will be having the Maine Harvest Meal on 9/26th. I believe the Elementary Schools are having a poster contest. Debbie

…K-2 schools are tying the meal in to their curriculum.  Judy l

At East End Kid’s Kate ring we are doing a number of Maine farm products –Maine(Baked) Potatoes, Maine Blueberry Bread, Maine Mac Apples,  and our usually Maine milk- (Oakhurst) for all the 2 schools we served. We are also doing this with the 220 children in the 9 Head Start programs we serve meal at. I will be working with Amanda Beal to get materials that we can provide to staff and parents.   This is a great idea and I hope most schools are participating.  Lynn

The elementary schools are serving assorted apples and apple cider from Sweetser apple orchard in Cumberland. We also will be serving and apple bar dessert from the Gluten Free Cottage Bakery also in Cumberland. Jon

We are offering: "Farm to school day" Featuring Maine Foods.....
Grilled Chicken or Hamburger on a roll
Fresh "local" corn on the cob
Fresh Broccoli
Warm Maple Blueberry cake
Crisp Maine Apple

Breakfast:
Fresh Melon Wedge
Apple-berry-cherry muffins
Cold milk choices

We are buying fresh corn on the cob for all of our schools for that day--IF there is no hard frost before (a suggestion from one farmer was a little earlier in the month so not so much risk of frost??) From Anderson Farms in Dayton for SAD #57 and From Riverside Farms in No. Berwick for SAD #60.  The principals will have classrooms husk corn in the morning and we will steam and serve it for lunch.   We also buy native blueberries and fresh apples all year long from Giles Apple Farm in Alfred for both districts.
We are also looking into buying cukes, summer squash, zucchini and tomatoes each fall until frost.  Then maybe carrots and some winter squash.
The farmers have been really helpful and willing to do whatever to make this work for both of us.  We have offered to do some of the trucking around to the schools if they can make several drops in the district….Lynnette

Amazing things are happening in Union #74.....just watched volunteer parents shuck enough corn for our school...it was fantastic!! Provided by Spear Farms!!! Maureen  
P.S. The corn was fantastic!!!!

MSAD #68 is having a Maine Baked Potato, with Cabot Cheddar Cheese sauce,  fresh steamed broccoli spears,  B& M baked beans as a side dish upon request, and Maine Blueberry Cake with fresh whipped topping for dessert -  
The tables will be tastefully decorated with "from the garden" products and canned goods that are home preserved.  School newsletters have spoken about the lunch.....
Lynne

…teachers are tying it into their lessons that day.   Ellen

… today our lunch included Maine blueberries, locally grown carrots for sticks and baked potato.  The potatoes were generously donated by a farmer from up in the "County" Evelyn

Lunch went just fine.

 

Maine Harvest Day

September 26 2007was Maine Harvest Day Lunch when all Maine Schools were encouraged to serve a MAINE meal to the students. Some districts will be doing a Maine lunch at a later date because of scheduling conflicts.

Here is a link to a sample Harvest Day Lunch outline from F.A.R.M.S.

Menu Suggestions

Here is a sample of menu ideas for Harvest day submitted by Cheryl Wixson.

MAINE HARVEST LUNCH
2007 MENU SUGGESTIONS

 

AUTUMN HARVEST CORN & CHEVRE PUDDING

MAPLE ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLES

ITALIAN-INSPIRED PASTA with MAINE WHITE BEANS & VEGGIES

CHICKEN POT PIE WITH MAINE MASHED POTATOES

TURKEY OR BEEF BARBEQUE BURGERS

CARROT – GINGER SOUP

* * * * *

AROOSTOOK WHEAT BERRY FRUIT SALAD

HEIRLOOM TOMATO SALSA

CARROT RAISIN SLAW

* * *

PUMPKIN SNACK CAKES

WILD BLUEBERRY COBBLER

MAINE APPLE – GINGERBREAD

 

What Can I do?

This day can have several parts. It can be as simple or as large as the district desires. Many districts have included teachers, administrators, health coordinators, nurses and local producers. This should be a school event.

A list of some items:

classroom activities Ag in the classroom

students helping to prepare menu items

parent community volunteers included in activities

tractors on display

local farmers acknowledged, honored

field trips prior to day

student taste testing to develop the menu prior to the event

introduce new items for students to taste on the day of event.

garden displays

table tents with facts about Maine products/Farmers

Maine Salad Bar

What kind of Items Can I Use for Maine Harvest Lunch Day

Do not forget land and sea. Here is a partial list of items submitted to us.

Broccoli Beef
Carrots Chicken
Corn Goat
Cucumber Pork
Lettuce Turkey
Mushrooms Eggs
Peas Cheese
Onions  
Peppers Seafood
Zucchini

Haddock
Potatoes Sea Lettuce
Spinach Dulce
Pumpkin Sea Chips
Squash Kelp
Tomatoes Salmon (farm raised))
Apples  
Pears Bagels
Strawberries Bread
Cranberries Flour
Cherries  
Raspberries Herbs
Blueberries  
  Milk
  Honey
  Maple Products


Why Promote Maine Products

Estimated importing food from out of state typically requires 17 times more petroleum compared to purchasing locally

Product is fresher

better taste

fresh products mean maximum nutrient value

supports local business and taxes

considered an important method to address childhood obesity

education about products

not usually processed therefore no added salt or sugars

where the product was grown is known

advertise local businesses

increases physical activities

Obstacles

Cost Cost is sometimes an issue, but purchasers must look at the yield of a product. Also the farmer you purchased from is your neighbor who pays taxes and supports your school. The farmer may be able to provide other useful parts to the school.

Transportation Getting the product to your kitchens has been a problem in the past. Farmers and distributors are aware of this and options have been put in place or being worked on.

What about the classroom and teaching staff?

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom has nice lesson called "Lunchtime Favorites" using a Venn Diagram that can be used for K - 12 with increasing complexity. It traces the source of foods to plant, animal or other (mineral, fungus, fermented products, yeast, etc.) That is available to teachers? Contact:

Willie Sawyer Grenier

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Assn.
28 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 287-5522, Fax 287-7548

maitca@maine.gov

Other Resources:

Resource Guide listing local farmers that will present to or host school groups.

National Farm to School Web Page

Maine Farm to School List Serve

YES Maine school food service programs can buy local products. This is a great plan to support the local communities. Several Districts are already doing this. some have a garden. there is a lot of confusion on the buying local and using geographic preference. This is not allowed under the current regulations. The Harrison Institute Report does not agree with USDA Food and Nutrition Services interpretation of the regulation. The FNS letter is pretty clear.

Vermont Feed has recipes on their web page. The squash soup is very good.

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardner's Association (MOFGA)

Cheryl Wixson Organic Marketing Consultant of MOFGA, has agreed to work with schools in development of some ideas and recipes.

Farm to School Blog Some Farm to School can be found on this blog. It is not a !00% Farm to school at this time.

Gorham School Department's Maine Harvest Lunch group have posted all of our resources on Maine SFA web page so anyone can use our documents and just do a name change from "Gorham" to their own. more questions contact:

Ronald Adams, SNS
Director, Gorham School Nutrition
President, Maine School Food Service Association
207-222-1375
207-839-4092 fax

new Western Mountains Alliance This site has PDF booklet of farm stands in Franklin and Somerset County, information on green house and other interesting information.

Harrison Institute report and USDA with Questions and answers.

 

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