Toni Bowman, Director of Nutrition Services for Pomptonian, spearheads the Farm to School movement, setting a standard for others in the field. Her commitment to promoting NJ produce in schools goes beyond just serving meals - it’s about fostering a deeper connection between students and their local food system. Some initiatives implemented by Toni and her team at Pomptonian include:
- Nutrition News Video Series: The series spotlights farms across New Jersey. Through engaging interviews with farmers, Toni aims to showcase the diversity and quality of produce available within NJ while educating students about the benefits of locally sourced.
Check out one of the Nutrition News videos hosted by Toni: Blueberries.
- Farm to Tray Program: The Farm to Tray program incorporates NJ produce into school menus. Each month, they feature at least one local fruit and vegetable, allowing students to taste the produce our state has to offer.
- Healthy School Lunch Challenge: Students are encouraged to submit a healthy recipe that includes the fruit or vegetable of the month. This year the top three high school students competed at Kitchen 71, the Driscoll Kitchen.
Check out the video: Healthy School Lunch Challenge Cook-Off
- Special Events: Events like Earth Day celebrations further reinforce the commitment to promoting local produce and sustainable eating practices. Students were offered a plant-based meal that included local hummus on Earth Day. The celebration continued throughout the week with various applications of apples from Phillips Farm and spinach from Landisville Farm.
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