Massachusetts Farm to School Project
 From kindergarten to college, interest in serving locally grown foods in cafeterias is increasing in Massachusetts and throughout the northeast U.S. Feeding locally grown foods to students can be a good way for food service directors to improve the nutritional value and taste of school meals, while supporting the local economy. Selling local products to schools can be profitable for Massachusetts growers who are looking for a new way to connect with local consumers.
Farm to School transactions must be evaluated for good “fit”
and positive value for both sides. MDAR, through its support of the Massachusetts
Farm to School Project, provides technical assistance to Massachusetts
farmers and schools as they attempt to find a good match. To date there
are about 250 public school districts, private schools, and colleges in the Commonwealth preferentially serving local foods, over half of which
have received assistance from the Mass. Farm to School Project. About 110 farms are currently selling their products directly to schools across the state.
Throughout the country and the state, folks are writing and organizing and teaching about everything from eating local foods in the cafeteria to learning in school gardens to studying agriculture in the classroom to local foods cooking classes for kids. At the Mass. Farm to School Project we focus on procurement - local foods arriving at the loading dock of institutions - and on facilitating sustainable relationships between farms and schools. But, we are committed to promoting all aspects of farm to school-related experiences.
Massachusetts Farm-to-School Cookbook
Highlights Fresh and Locally Grown Products for Schools!
The cookbook features:
- 45 easy-to-follow recipes using Massachusetts crop, including value added produce such as peeled butternut squash and sliced carrots.
- Easy to prep recipes using dormant seasonal crop, such as potatoes, sweet
potatoes and butternut squash .
- Recipes have been school tested by Food Service Directors, cooks, and students in the schools themselves and designed for 50 to 100 servings.
- Nutritional analysis for each recipe
- Contacts for accessing farm produce
- Kid’s favorites include: Brown Rice Pilaf with Carrots, Chinese Green Beans, Tropical Cole Slaw and Garlic Mashed New Potatoes
We’re pleased to introduce GROW, COOK, TEACH! A Resource Guide For Farm To School Activities. This booklet contains basic information about many programs and organizations that are defining and expanding the farm to school concept. Whether you are interested in learning about funding sources for school gardens, after-school cooking classes showcasing local produce, or ways to teach students about what's growing on the farm in May, you'll find useful references here!
GROW, COOK, TEACH! A Resource Guide For Farm To School Activities [PDF]
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| Mass. Farm to School mascots Carrots and Peapod celebrated Mass. Harvest
for Students Week by visiting students at schools across the state including
the Blueberry Hill School in Longmeadow. |
Kelly Erwin, Director of the Mass. Farm to School Project, was pleased to present Kim Szeto, Farm to School Coordinator for the Boston Public Schools, with the 2011 Blue Ribbon Award. |
Worcester kindergarten students participating in the Worcester Kindergarten
Initiative enjoy a wagon ride at Tougas Farm in Northborough. |
Recently released - Meat Study - New England Beef-to-Institution Marketing
Study
• Executive Summary
• Full Report
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