The Wellness Committee
Farm-to-School Highlights 2024-2025
We are so excited about our farm-to-school initiative here in Smithfield! See some of our events below!
January 2025
We proudly announce that Smithfield Public Schools received a Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Award for making improvements to the nutritional quality of our district’s school meals.
Awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in collaboration with Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK), Smithfield received the Innovation in the Preparation of School Meals Award for our work in introducing 3 scratch made recipes into the school meal program including:
Butternut Squash Chili (butternut squash from FarmFreshRI and Schartner Farm, RI)
Taco Beef (beef from FarmFreshRI and Blackbird Farms, RI)
Pico de Gallo (tomatoes from Wards Berry Farms, RI, and from Schartner Farm, RI) The Pico de Gallo is served as a side to both nachos and tacos.
Innovation in the Preparation of School Meals Award winners incorporated new menu items that are prepared from scratch using a local agricultural product or USDA food in accordance with the USDA recipe standardization process and incorporated student engagement.
As an award recipient, we are also receiving national and local recognition and travel stipends to attend a national Healthy Meals Summit.
Chefs Will Fritz and Reece Lavacca served up a tasting at our schools open houses this year. Families and students enjoyed Denver Bowls made with local ingredients!
