09/27/2007
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Staff photo by David Leaming
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Staff photo by David Leamingfrom the Kennebec Journal
QUESTIONS REMAIN
No complaints from those who switched to Somerset County center
Vote on 1 may hurt some in election
Steeple at center of debate in Whitefield
VETERANS REQUIRE ASSISTANCE: Homelessness takes center stage
J.P. DEVINE: Overcome sadness with hope
BASKETBALL: NBA Hall of Famer Barry doles out advice at Thomas College
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: Maranacook sophomore Mace dominates Class B field
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
A year later, families await answers on fatalities
Owner of topless coffee shop on the comeback trail
Officials report cheaper, better service after switch
Two people in critical condition
Young Marines stick to program
Issue of homeless veterans at center stage
GIRLS SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Winslow falls to York in Class B
Bard hits her marathon stride
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
The Nokomis High School junior had no idea that Wednesday's hot lunch was almost entirely locally produced, but Raye could see the difference in the potatoes, chicken and corn on her tray.
"It looks real," she said with a laugh.
"We haven't eaten this kind of stuff before," added junior Hailey Peterson.
Providing students with food they have not eaten before was precisely the idea behind Wednesday's Maine Harvest Lunch.
Promoted by the Department of Education's Child Nutrition Services and local farm-to-school groups, public schools in the state were encouraged to offer as many Maine products as possible to their students for lunch.
"It's a way for us to buy from local farmers as much as possible," said David Leighton, food service director for School Administrative District 48, which includes Nokomis High School. "It's a great program."
Maine products are already used in many schools across the state, but Harvest Day was an opportunity to establish contacts and increase the amount of Maine products fed to children throughout the year.
It has been several years since the last statewide Harvest Lunch, said Walter Beesley, field specialist for Child Nutrition Services.
"The goal is to keep this program moving forward," he said. "Every year our goal is to have at least one Harvest Day. This will make an awareness that they can actually buy locally. This is a good way to establish those contacts."
Beesley was uncertain how many schools participated in the Harvest Lunch, but there was positive anecdotal evidence.
"I just sent an e-mail this afternoon and asked who wasn't (participating) and I haven't gotten anything back," he said. "I would say you're going to have a huge percentage."
SAD 48 has been purchasing food locally on a limited basis for a number of years, Leighton said. For example, the district has purchased apples from Newport's Rowe Orchards for about seven years. The district has sporadically purchased cucumbers and tomatoes from local growers over the past two years.
But Leighton is hoping to use Wednesday's Harvest Lunch as a first step toward a strong relationship with local growers.
"This is a big push," Leighton said. "We're going to use this program. I think this one makes sense."
There are drawbacks to the program, however, such as an increase in cost. The food service program is not part of the school budget.
Leighton must pay for everything, including salaries and equipment, on money generated from selling meals. Government subsidies, likewise, are based on the number of meals sold.
"Just to arbitrarily say we have to feed kids healthier is great, but we have to be able to afford it," Leighton said. "Despite it costing more, this is a program we're going to push and utilize as much as possible."
Another obstacle is a school schedule that runs opposite the best growing months. Students are on vacation in July and August, when most vegetables are harvested.
The best fall crops, when children are returning to school, are squash and turnips, which require too much time to prepare, Leighton said.
"We'll never be able to stop using canned fruits and vegetables, but I'm switching to fresh and frozen as much as possible," Leighton said.
Bradstreet Farms, a potato grower in Newport, donated 600 pounds of its crop to SAD 48 for the lunch. Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources Commissioner Seth Bradstreet III, whose wife and son run Bradstreet Farms, said some farmers are trying to extend the season to get more of their products into school cafeterias.
"The farmers themselves are becoming more innovative and trying to provide a late-season contribution to the program," Bradstreet said. "I think the school nutrition people are being innovative too. Both sides have to be willing to come and do the right thing."
The payoff is more than worth it, said Ed Buzanoski, owner of Rowe Orchards and a teacher at Nokomis.
"I think kids have lost touch with where their milk and produce come from," Buzanoski said. "This is a way of re-establishing that."
Rowe has provided apples to Dexter schools for 14 years. Not only can the orchard count on orders from Dexter, but students and their parents now seek out Rowe apples.
"They're very reliable and very pleased with the fruit," Buzanoski said. "They really promote the product. It really has helped the farm stand get the word out that we have good fruit."
Craig Crosby -- 861-9253
ccrosby@centralmaine.com
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