The Rhode Island Farm to School Project
The Rhode Island Farm to School Project, coordinated by Kids First, is a collaboration between the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management/Division of Agriculture, the Rhode Island Department of Health, the Rhode Island Department of Education, Farm Fresh Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Farm Bureau, Southside Community Land Trust, Rhode Island public and independent schools and Rhode Island farmers.
The Rhode Island Farm to School Project encourages all Rhode Island school districts to buy locally grown foods to serve in school meals.
Contact Kimberly Sporkmann, Kids First Farm to School Specialist, to learn more about the program and how to increase the use of locally grown foods in your school.
Kids First Farm to School Newsletter - "What's Growing On Rhode Island Farm to School?"
July 2010, June 2010, May 2010, April 2010
Spring 2010 Farm to School Harvest
West Warwick Elementary Students Enjoy RI Asparagus - Students at Maisie Quinn Elementary School in West Warwick enjoyed some of the first produce of the Rhode Island farms 2010 harvest - asparagus for lunch at school.
Fall 2009 Farm to School Harvest
Middle School Students Help Shuck Sweet Corn for Lunches in Aramark Cafeteria - Students at Archie Cole Middle School in East Greenwich helped prepare some of this season's corn harvest for their school lunches. The sweet corn came from Confreda Farms in Cranston. The students learned that sweet corn is picked when the kernels are immature and it is eaten as a vegetable rather than a grain. They also got to experience first hand how to prepare the corn for a meal direct from the farm!
Students Pick, Prepare and Eat their Lunch - As part of a grant-funded Pawtuxet Village Farmers Market/Farm to School Program, Cranston middle schoolers learned first hand about why it is important (and yummy) to eat locally grown veggies - especially freshly picked Cranston green beans! The program included a tasting of 3 different green bean recipes in the cafeteria, with students voting on a favorite. Then the students toured a local farm to pick green beans for that winning recipe. One class worked with Food Service Director Mike Marrocco to prepare the green bean dish for the rest of the students at the school.
Locally Grown Week from Chartwells - To celebrate the harvest, East Bay School Districts serviced by Chartwells participated in an event promoting local produce in the cafeterias. The weeklong event, called "It Takes You - Eat Local", helped create awareness of the health benefits of eating Rhode Island locally grown foods. Apples, tomatoes, corn, peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, cabbage and eggplants were served in nearly 40 school cafeterias. Farms supplying produce for the event included Young Family Farm, Steere Orchards and Confreda Farms.
Fresh Start - Sodexo Serves Jamestown Students The 15-Mile Menu - Jamestown elementary and middles school students were served a lunch made up of items supplied by local farms and food producers. The 15 Mile Menu featured produce from Shartner Farms, Casey Farm, breads from Village Hearth bakery and Rhody Fresh milk and local eggs from Little Rhody Foods. Local beekeepers were also on hand to help educate the kids about local food production and the importance of local farms.
FARMER TRADING CARDS