Cantaloupes, watermelons are September's featured food
Klamath County School District students will be eating melons grown in Klamath Falls this month as a kick off to the district’s Farm to School Featured Food program.
“The program brings fresh local products into our school cafeterias every month, increasing student awareness about Klamath Basin and Oregon agriculture, while expanding the freshly prepared options food service teams provide on the lunch line,” said Jordan Rainwater, KCSD’s Farm to School procurement coordinator. “This year, students will enjoy local potatoes, winter squash, and beef served on the menu multiple times this year – the result of intensive menu planning, positive student feedback, strengthening relationships with local producers, and enthusiasm from food service staff.”
In September, the program will feature cantaloupes and watermelons from Maranatha Farms owned by John and Mary Ann Anderson of Klamath Falls. Each school will get a chance to feature the melons and cafeteria displays help educate students about the fruit.
In October, the featured food will be local carrots. The annual Crunch at Once event in partnership with OSU Extension will take place at about a dozen schools and feature carrots grown at Sweet Union Farm of Klamath Falls The other schools will feature the local carrots in their salad bars. Other Oregon-grown foods on the menu for the month include sweet corn kernels from Stahlbush Island Farms.
Oregon Department of Education Farm to School grants help pay for food procurement, events, and education activities. Farmers and ranchers also are invited to visit school cafeterias throughout the year, enriching the Farm to School experience for producers, students, and staff.
Rainwater is the district’s Farm to School procurement coordinator and Gillian Sisson is the district’s Farm to School education coordinator.
The schedule of featured foods for the year includes:
• November: Delicata winter squash, Sweet Union Farm, Klamath Falls; locally grown fingerling potatoes.
• December: Oregon-raised cranberries, local yellow potatoes.
• January: Local red potatoes.
• February: Lamb, KCSD FFA programs, Anderson Ranches, Brownsville, Oregon.
• March: Whole grains.
• April: Microgreens, Fresh Green Organics, Klamath Falls and Danish Honey Farms, Klamath Falls.
• May: Local ground beef.
• June: Oregon-raised spinach and eggs.
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