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Farm to School Unboxing

The Oneida-Herkimer-Madison (OHM) BOCES Food Service Program has launched a pilot project this school year: School Sized Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).

The goal of the project is to match schools to farms in their community. In a typical CSA model, families purchase a subscription to receive weekly boxes of fresh produce from local farms during the growing season. By making the model “school sized,” each school receives 4-10 boxes of product weekly.

This school year, 11 schools signed up for fall share CSAs from five different local farms. Schools have received a diverse selection of fresh produce, including collard greens, kale, Swiss chard, tomatoes, eggplant, hot peppers, scallions, onions, garlic, gem lettuce, several types of squash, radishes, beets and more. Each week brings new varieties, and cook managers in each kitchen collaborate with their teams and an OHM BOCES dietician to create delicious recipes for students.

Partnerships between local farms and schools include:

  • West End Farm is providing produce to Herkimer Elementary School and Frankfort-Schuyler Elementary School.
  • Common Thread Farm is providing produce to Clinton Elementary School, Westmoreland Primary Elementary School and Westmoreland Upper Elementary School.
  • Gaia's Breath Farm is providing produce to the Owen D. Young Central School District.
  • Catskill Agrarian Alliance is providing produce to the Richfield Springs Central School District, Memorial Park Elementary School and the Brookfield Central School District.
  • MAWs Farm is providing produce to OHM BOCES Middle Settlement Academy at Lincoln and the Remsen Central School District.

The School Sized CSA project highlights the amazing growers in the local communities, encourages OHM BOCES Food Service staff to get creative and helps expand the palates of local students.

A cardboard box labeled %22Farm Fresh Vegetables%22 sits on a wooden surface, displaying an illustration of various green vegetables.
Two individuals, one wearing a red shirt and the other a gray sweater, are packing boxes labeled %22Vegetables%22 on a table in what appears to be a kitchen or cafeteria setting.
A person in a red shirt is holding a tomato in their hands, with a blurred background behind them.
A plastic bag filled with various fresh vegetables, including tomatoes, onions, and other produce, resting on a surface.
A person in a red shirt and gray cardigan is standing in front of a box filled with various green vegetables, including what appears to be bunches of dill or parsley.
A tray filled with ripe, red tomatoes sits on a reflective surface, with a blurred background suggesting a kitchen or food preparation area.
A person wearing a red shirt and an Adidas cap is handling a bag of produce on a kitchen counter, with various other food items visible in the background.
Two individuals are working behind a counter, surrounded by various produce items such as lettuce and other vegetables.
Two individuals are shown packing and handling various fresh produce items, such as lettuce and other greens, in what appears to be a grocery or food distribution setting.
A person in a red shirt is holding a tray filled with ripe tomatoes and potatoes on a table.
A smiling man in a red shirt holds up two large bunches of fresh green leafy vegetables in a dimly lit indoor setting.
The image shows a kitchen or cafeteria setting, with a person in a red shirt arranging produce on a table, while another person in the background is also handling various vegetables.
A large bundle of fresh, vibrant green lettuce leaves rests on an orange surface, with a person's hands visible in the background.
The image shows a variety of fresh vegetables, including potatoes, tomatoes, and leafy greens, arranged on a table or counter.