Throughout the month of October, Massachusetts Farm to School was excited to step away from our computers and organize small tours throughout the Commonwealth for policymakers. Three tours in Beverly, New Bedford, and Walpole highlighted the important and exciting farm to school programming happening across the Commonwealth throughout these difficult times.
New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
Salem Public Schools
Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School
Early in October about 20 people gathered at Moraine Farm for a farm tour at New Entry Sustainable Farming Project in Beverly, MA. Legislators, state agency staff, school administrators, and press spent the morning of October 6th touring the beautiful Moraine Farm property and learning about the vibrant food hub, farmer training programs and farmer support networks at New Entry. Legislators heard from Salem PS Nutrition Services and Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School about their ongoing partnership with New Entry to provide local fresh produce for students for the past year. As school food programs have changed dramatically over the past year, it was important to hear the successes and current challenges, and discuss why farm to school remains a critical piece of their business/program, and how the current pandemic has affected it. New Entry Sustainable Farming Project seeks to build upon these relationships to partner with additional schools throughout the region to bring fresh, local produce to cafeterias using their growing food hub. Read the Salem News article covering the tour here.
New Bedford Public Schools
On October 21st, we celebrated New Bedford’s strong, district-wide farm to school program with a tour and discussion at the Gomes Elementary School garden. New Bedford was a participant in the 2019-2020 Massachusetts Farm to School Institute and has developed a bold vision for an integrated farm to school program where all students learn in the school garden and access local foods in schools meals. Legislators and staff heard from the School Food Service Director and from the project partner, the Marion Institute, which oversees the school gardens and has been providing professional development for teachers. The team has not been deterred by the pandemic – even providing teacher training over the summer at a local farm. New Bedford was also a recipient of $1.4 million through the MA Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program created as part of the state’s COVID-19 relief efforts. These funds will be used to support a new high school kitchen that enables significantly more scratch cooking and use of local foods. Read the South Coast Today article covering the tour here.
Norfolk County Agricultural High School
On a rainy afternoon on October 28th, legislators and staff toured the Aggie Abundance garden at Norfolk County Agricultural High School in Walpole, also a participant in the 2019-2020 MA Farm to School Institute. This gathering was to celebrate the Aggie Abundance COVID Garden, a new endeavor underway at the high school that offers students real hands-on experience while also growing fresh produce for food insecure families during a time of great need. Rather than being sidelined by COVID-19, the school accelerated their plans, rapidly converting land to a productive vegetable garden to feed the community. In total approximately $50,000 worth of fresh vegetables were given away to over 4,500 individuals from Walpole, Norwood, Dedham, Wrentham, Boston and neighboring communities through the partnership with local food pantries. The school shared their plans to expand the garden next year, both growing more food and providing more learning opportunities for students and the community.
Phone: (413) 253-3844
Email: info@massfarmtoschool.org
