NEISD's Farm to Table

Local Produce Finds its Way onto School Trays Across NEISD with Farm to School Grant

by Taylor Phelps

School cafeterias are revamping their menus with locally sourced fruits and vegetables. From broccoli to Texas oranges, Farm to School programs across the nation now deliver fresh produce and foods right to our children ’ s trays. Some foods are as local as the garden located on campus! Communities, area farmers, and children all benefit from the Farm to School initiative. The North East Independent School District incorporates local produce into school meals, educates students about agriculture, and supports urban rural economies through the USDA funded Food and Nutrition Grant. In 2015, NEISD was the first district in San Antonio to be awarded the grant. Since then, NEISD has been able to expand their bid process to purchase

Texas-produced foods, such as local whole grain flour made by C.H. Guenther & Son. The district has also created a School Garden Toolkit Guide which is available to any school that would like to start their own garden. Lastly, the School Nutrition Department expanded their team by hiring a culinary coordinator who improved district health initiatives with the development of nutrient-rich recipes featuring locally grown produce. The culinary coordinator also provides additional training for nutrition staff.

In 2018, NEISD was awarded additional funds for the Farm to School program. The funds provided School Nutrition Services with the ability to train all staff on how to process fresh produce for the meal program. Additional purchases included cold plates on the serving line at six elementary campuses to maintain produce

freshness during service, a vacuum sealer to freeze fruits and vegetables, and equipment for campuses such as cutting boards, knives, and blenders for smoothies at the high schools. Thanks to these initiatives, children eat more fruits and vegetables, increase physical activity, develop more interest in school meals, and learn the importance of agriculture. These initiatives also include culinary classes and education programs for both students and parents, either during or after school.

NEISD School Nutrition Services and staff work diligently to increase exposure to new fruits and vegetables through many avenues. Campus staff and students work together by using the School Garden Toolkit to start and maintain seasonal produce gardens that can withstand the South Texas climate.

In April 2021, students at Woodstone Elementary were given the opportunity to taste radishes grown in their campus garden. Students picked radishes and delivered them to school nutrition staff, who prepared the vegetables in the kitchen for sampling. NEISD Wellness Coordinator Jackie Pedersen provided handouts that included a brief history and fun facts about the veggie that was new to many students. At Colonial Hills Elementary, the P.E. coach has been inspiring students to participate in their teaching garden, where students are learning how to grow produce by composting with worms and cafeteria scraps. Students sample the garden produce in the school cafeteria, where staff hear them excitedly discussing the vegetables they grew themselves.

When a child gets the opportunity to sample a new food they helped grow, they are likely to tell their parents about it and want to grow or have these items bought from their local grocery stores. Often, farmers markets and grocery stores located near districts with Farm to School programs see an increase in fruit and vegetable sales that can be tied back to schools using hands-on education about locally sourced produce. Farm to School reaches beyond building school gardens and educating students. The program procures local and state farm grown produce and meat, supporting Texas farmers by providing new opportunities. Farmers benefit by expanding income potential, selling surplus produce, and partnering with local districts to increase demand and awareness of foods. Communities also benefit from the creation of new jobs, the circulation of money through local and state economies, and the connections built between school nutrition services and food vendors. NEISD School Nutrition Services has been honored to continue to support local farmers and producers through the Farm to School program. NEISD hopes to see more school gardens and utilization of local produce across the district and city!