June 2009
Davis Farm to School Hosts Chamber Lunch: On June 2nd the Davis Farm to School Connection hosted a luncheon for the members of the Davis City Chamber of Commerce. Lunch was catered by the Davis Joint Unified School District’s Student Nutrition Services and highlighted local seasonal produce served in the school cafeterias. The Chamber especially enjoyed the crunchy asparagus and fresh cherries for dessert. Associate Superintendent Bruce Colby spoke during lunch on behalf of the Davis Farm to School Connection and emphasized the indispensable benefits of the garden, recycling and healthy school lunch programs supported by the organization.
Pint-size Chefs in the Classroom: This spring the Davis Farm to School Connection piloted a Cooking in the Classroom program at Montgomery Elementary school in Davis. Sara Enwright, an intern from the Sacramento State University Community Nutrition Program, planned and taught the cooking lessons to students grades first through fourth. Using simple recipes from the California Department of Education publication Kids Cook Farm Fresh, Sara planned lessons that incorporated seasonal vegetables served as part of school lunch and growing in the school garden. According to participating teachers, students seemed to most enjoy the broccoli with cheese sauce! Cooking seems to be one of the best forms of nutrition education. By supporting more eating of seasonal fruits and vegetables through cooking in the classroom programs, the Davis Farm to School Connection hopes to encourage healthy food choices in students.
Davis School Lunch Team Cooks for Alice Waters: Rafaelita Curva, director of the Davis Joint Unified School District’s Student Nutrition Services, and the school lunch teams had a chance to show off their cooking skills for Alice Waters, a major instigator of the improving school lunch movement, when Waters came to Winters to speak at a benefit for the Center for Land-Based Learning. Bite-sized appetizers made from locally grown and milled polenta were prepared and served by the Student Nutrition Services employees to the acclaim of the more than 200 people attending the event. Many guests were surprised to taste a sample of the delicious food now offered as part of school lunch throughout the district.
