School District of the Chathams to Participate in Farm to School Initiate Program

CHATHAM, NJ — The Chatham Farm to School Committee recently announced the start of a Farm to School Initiative program that will work to bring New Jersey produce to school cafeterias and educate students on the benefits of healthy eating, according to Tapinto.

School District of the Chathams announced they'll participate in National Farm to School Month this month. Throughout October, students will participate in art projects, partake in physical education activities, and see cooking demonstrations all focused on healthy eating and promoting well-being among children.

Chatham students will also work on school gardens. They'll even get the opportunity to sample vegetables grown in different Chatham school gardens or locally around Chatham. Chartwells Chef Aaron Hairston and Chef Amy Curry will prepare the samples for students, Tapinto reports.

The Chatham Farm to School Committee is made up of parents, administrators and teachers in the school district, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the Mayor’s Wellness Councils of Chatham Borough and Chatham Township. The group started in 2015.

Since their start, the Chatham Farm to School Committee has helped start a school food garden at the Middle School, and helped start the vertical indoor garden at Lafayette School. The group has also continuously integrated outdoor food gardens with the cafeteria food service at these schools as well as Chatham High School and Milton Avenue School.

To learn more, see the full Tapinto article here.

Photo courtesy of nociveglia/Flickr