News : Farm to School: VS seeks to serve more locally-grown produce in cafeterias

Children watch as Chef Justin makes salsa.

Farm to School Night: Jonathan McClung samples the cinnamon nachos with fruit salad.

Children watch as Chef Justin makes salsa.

During "Back to School Night" at Tilford Elementary, students and their families also received a taste of "Farm to School," program that is just beginning in the Vinton-Shellsburg district.

The goal of the program is to connect schools with area farmers and produce growers, to provide healthy vegetables for lunch rooms while supporting local farmers and encouraging the production and consumption of healthier food.

The VS Farm to School group has been working on this project for several months. Tilford parent Shana Guerrero is the President of the chapter.

"We were able to secure a grant for an initial project focusing on education and hands-on experience," says Guerrero. "The next step of the program is procurement. We are in the development phase of the procurement process. The plan is to work on procurement through a two different channels: 1. FFA, and 2. Local producers."

Children and their parents were invited to sample some items made mostly with locally-grown produce during the Monday evening event. The menu included "Mac and Trees" -- made with broccoli and whole-wheat macaroni, cherry tomato and corn salad, cinnamon nachos with fruit salad and sesame-roasted green beans. Chef Justin from the Vinton Lutheran Home made salsa while children watched.

Mike and Cindy Elwick of Old School Produce provided many of the produce items for this event. Guerrero said the group seeks to work with many local growers as the program takes shape. While "Farm to School" is new to the V-S district, it is actively in progress in several other Iowa districts, particularly in northeast Iowa. Guerrero said local leaders may soon travel to other schools to learn how the program works in those districts.

The Benton County Extension Service is also involved in the project.

See more information HERE.

See photos of Farm to School/Back to School Night HERE.