TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher has announced the 8th annual Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week will be held Sept. 24-28 to celebrate the partnerships being built between state farmers and schools which encourage schools to purchase produce from local farmers to incorporate into school meals.
“During Farm to School Week, we want to recognize all schools that have worked to incorporate more nutritious Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables into their meal programs and teach children about the importance of our state’s agriculture industry,” said Secretary Fisher. “We have an energetic Farm to School program and encourage all schools in the state to participate.”
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has planned events next week at two farms and three schools that exemplify the many successful farm to school partnerships throughout the state.
Sept. 24, 9:15 a.m. – Farmer Recognition Award, Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, NJ, 08540. Secretary Fisher, NJDA Division of Food and Nutrition Director Rose Tricario and Farm to School Coordinators Beth Feehan and Chris Cirkus, USDA officials and state and local legislators will visit Terhune Orchards in Mercer County and present the farm with the first Farm to School Farmer Recognition Award.
Sept. 24, 10:45 a.m. – Best in New Jersey Farm to School Award, Hopewell Elementary School, 35 Princeton Avenue, Hopewell, NJ, 08525. Secretary Fisher, NJDA Division of Food and Nutrition Director Rose Tricario and Farm to School Coordinators Beth Feehan and Chris Cirkus, USDA officials and state and local legislators will visit Hopewell Elementary School. There will be a school assembly to present the Best in New Jersey Farm to School Award to the school. This award is given to one school in New Jersey each year.
Sept. 25, 10 a.m. – Jersey Tastes! at Procacci Brothers Farm, 20 Duffield Avenue, Cedarville, NJ, 08311. NJDA Division of Food and Nutrition Director Rose Tricario and Farm to School Coordinators Beth Feehan and Chris Cirkus, and state and local legislators will visit the farm. The highlight of the day will be celebrating the Jersey Tastes! program, as the tomato is the featured vegetable for September. The day will include a group shot of everyone in attendance taking a bite of Jersey Fresh tomato at the same time. The Jersey Tastes! program encourages schools to feature a different fruit or vegetable each month on the school menu.
Sept. 27, 10 a.m. – Texas Avenue School, 2523 Arctic Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ, 08401. NJDA Division of Food and Nutrition Director Rose Tricario, Farm to School Coordinators Beth Feehan and Chris Cirkus and state and local officials will watch a lunch-time taste test demonstration from a Food Corps instructor and be available to discuss the Farm to School program and the role Food Corps plays in teaching students about the importance of good nutrition.
Sept. 28, 10 a.m. – Newark Educators Community Charter School, 9-11 Hill Street, Newark, NJ, 07102. Secretary Fisher, NJDA Division of Food and Nutrition Director Rose Tricario and Farm to School Coordinators Beth Feehan and Chris Cirkus and state and local officials will visit the rooftop school garden, which was built with the help of Farm to School mini-grants awarded last year.
Many other schools throughout the state are planning their own Farm to School Week celebrations. Check with your local school for specific activities.
During the 2017-18 school year, the influence of the Farm to School Program led to 255 schools purchasing some local produce from their main distributor, 223 districts buying local produce directly from farms, 212 districts using a curriculum that ties cafeteria meals to healthy eating education and 114 districts organizing field trips to farms.
Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week was established by law in 2010 to bring attention to the Farm to School Program, which connects schools to local farmers to increase the amount of local fresh produce available for consumption by students during the school day.
For more information on the New Jersey Farm to School Program, visit www.farmtoschool.nj.gov.
— New Jersey Department of Agriculture