Photos by Lindsay Wilson.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Thursday, September 5, marked the first day of the 2019-20 school year. But before school bells chimed, and students filled the halls, the lunchroom staff of Saratoga Springs School District (SSSD) completed their own educational training. The SSSD partnered with Community Cooperative Extension (CCE )and Pitney Meadow Community Farm (PMCF) with the Farm to School Grant to bring ne healthy recipes to SSSD students.
“The goal is to bring fresh local produce on the trays of students,” said Margaret Sullivan, Lunchroom Director of SSSD. “Today Kevin is going to show us different ways we can incorporate fresh local produce into the student menu. For example, one of the items, he’s going to talk about is roasting fresh tomatoes and incorporating that into the student’s typical tomato soup that’s on their grilled cheese, which they love! But this way it gives a fresh component, changes of flavor.”
The Seasonal and Healthy Culinary training session was led by chef Kevin London, who has led similar trainings in Warren and Washington County school districts, and his co - chef Kim Klopstock, owner and Chef of Lilly and the Rose. They began the session with the staff having a taste of roasted produce and homemade hummus to give them an insight as to what they will be learning to make at the training.
“I’m really excited to get my foot in the door with the schools and hopefully be impactful,” said London.
This Farm to School initiative is aimed to benefit the students as well as the community through education, improving general health and well - being and by building a healthy community.
“There’s also other components as part of this grant, so there’s an educational piece where students will take field trips over to Pitney Meadow Community Farm,” said Sullivan. “They’ll volunteer, students will learn farming. So, it’s a multi - layered grant. But our piece of it is to provide education through harvest of the month and provide the beautiful fresh produce that Pitney is growing for us.”
As the student’s menu changes periodically, so will the many ways students consume fresh and locally sourced produce right here at school.
