Shorewood School District students are enjoying more farm fresh fruits and vegetables this year.  Taher Inc., who manages your school lunch program has partnered with Badgerland and Wisconsin Homegrown Lunch to expand their Farm to School program.

Badgerland Produce Co-op is a nonprofit organization that contracts with more than 200 family farms in Wisconsin. The farmers deliver their produce to Badgerland who coordinates the purchase and delivery to the school within 24 hours of being harvested.  This provides the freshest locally grown fruits and vegetables in the large quantities we need.  So far this year, we have served fresh melon in three varieties, corn on the cob and wonderful tomatoes that were provided during September.  October brings the Apple harvest to Shorewood, with several varieties of freshly picked apples.  We will also receive Wisconsin Cabbage that you will soon enjoy as fresh coleslaw.

Taher recognizes that students need to eat healthier, and believe a balanced meal is one of the best ways to make that happen.  You still will see the foods that kids love on our menus, like Chicken Nuggets and Pizza, but we also encourage them to eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to complete their meal.  Each day they have three vegetables and two Fruits to choose from on the Fruit and Vegetable Bar, and when we can offer foods so fresh and inviting as the Farm to School program provides, it makes it easier convince them to try new things.  It also helps out our local farmers which we are proud to do.

We will utilize as much locally grown fruits and vegetables as possible throughout the fall and spring growing seasons and feature them on our Harvest of the Month Menu.