 Blazing a trail for Farm to School efforts
The Mesabi East School District in Aurora is blazing a trail for Farm to School efforts in Northern Minnesota.
Rachel Doherty, a teacher at Mesabi East, started growing plants with students in a sunny, empty classroom a few years ago. In summer 2018, the school purchased a greenhouse, enabling students to get hands-on experience growing food. Microgreens, which were grown in the greenhouse, were served on the salad bar during school lunches. The students also grew plants for sale.
The local Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) played a key role in supporting that work. Ray Jobe with St. Louis County Public Health and Kelsey Gantzer with the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency’s Rutabaga Project helped the school launch its first year of procuring local food for school lunches by connecting staff with Farm to School resources and grant opportunities, reviewing grant proposals and connecting the school with local farmers. SHIP staff also assisted with the process of answering school leadership’s questions and helped to navigate food regulations.
This year, one meal a month at the school, which has nearly 1,000 students, features produce from several local farmers.
In addition to those Farm to School efforts, Mesabi East held four farmers markets during summer 2019. The markets were key in expanding food access in Aurora, a community that is 30 minutes away from the closest grocery store.
Through a school greenhouse, local produce in school lunches, and summer farmers market, students and the broader community have strengthened their local food economy and have greater access to and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables.
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