Farm to School Training

OHM BOCES and Utica City School Food Service employees attended a two-day Farm to School Culinary training at the MVCC Culinary Labs in Rome. During the training, 35 local school meal professionals came together to enhance their knife skills, culinary techniques, and teamwork.

The training, funded by a Farm to School Grant OHM BOCES secured during COVID, supports an initiative to source 30% of school lunch ingredients from New York State growers and producers. Participants worked with recipes that featured locally sourced vegetables, fruits, and proteins. The dishes highlighted seasonal ingredients and introduced new cooking techniques for foods already used in school meals. Organizers hope this will be the first of many annual events.