Minnesota-grown greens will be the first to arrive, followed shortly by fruits and vegetables then, eventually, meats. “Food revolutions” are sweeping the nation, and Blake is undergoing its own starting this week. Café Blake which is operated by Taher, Inc., announced that the School will be serving up fresh, locally grown produce on all three campuses through a new farm-to-school initiative.
Pine Acres Farm in Belle Plaine, Minn., will be delivering fresh, organic greens to Blake beginning this week. The 23-acre, family-owned farm produces a variety of lettuces, greens and tomatoes in greenhouses, making it possible for Café Blake to serve the produce year round. In the coming months, the School will receive fruits and vegetables from Natura Farms, located in Marine on the St. Croix.
Café Blake Director Nicolle Thomas says she looking forward to the educational opportunities and field trips these new partnerships will afford the School. Chef Christopher Loew (Blake campus) recently attended a conference in Detroit that focused on the future of school lunch and similar farm-to-school programs.
Thomas expects that the program will evolve and expand over the next few years, so be sure to look for other exciting announcements from Café Blake!
