September Newsletter

It has been so wonderful to see all of the smiling faces of students back in the cafeteria this month! We are excited to have many of the programs we launched last year continuing this fall. Make sure to check our social media and (new and improved!) website for updates about our programs and menus!

Earlier this month, we were able to welcome students and families back to schools at Open Houses! In lieu of our September Taste Tests in the cafeteria, we wanted to share the taste test experience with everyone. Students and parents alike tried samples of a local tomato salsa made with tomatoes sourced from Warner Farm in Sunderland, MA! We also distributed October menus and flyers with more information about our program.

Warner Farm, located in Sunderland, MA, one of the oldest farms in New England, having been operated by the Warner family for over 300 years! With over 150 acres, Warner Farm grows an abundance of fruits and vegetables. At Freshampton, we often purchase tomatoes and strawberries from Warner Farm to serve in the cafeteria to our students! In the photo on the right, you can see Warner tomatoes on a side salad that was served at all schools this September!

We are excited to continue our partnership with Grow Food Northampton to host an after school cooking club at JFK Middle School! Students meet once a week after school for to explore the wide world of food from seed to table and beyond. Through cooking, games, and other hands-on activities, students will learn about some of the challenges with our food system and ways that they can be part of the solutions! So far, students have already investigated the differences between organic and conventionally grown produce and have done a taste test to inspect the difference in flavor!

Freshampton is the School Nutrition Services of the Northampton Public School District. We are responsible for providing NPS students with breakfast and lunch each school day, as well as organizing farm to school programming for students in the classroom through connections with community organizations. Our goal at Freshampton is to provide delicious and nourishing meals to students everyday. Our dedicated kitchen staff prepare breakfast and lunch daily to provide students with fresh meals that will keep them full throughout the school day. This involves sourcing almost 30% of our produce from local farmers to get quality ingredients that support the larger Northampton community!