NJ Farm to School Academy Pilot

Participants from across the state gathered at The College of New Jersey to launch their yearlong journey of expanding Farm to School programming in their districts. The Academy teams dove into the core principles of Farm to School—the 3Cs: Classroom, Cafeteria, and Community—and began building shared values and action plans to guide their work for the year ahead.

In the afternoon, participants choose from two immersive Learning Journeys. One group joined Chef Mohamad for a hands-on plant-based culinary training, preparing a delicious Red Lentil & Sautéed Spring Veggie Bowl and discovering strategies to implement plant-forward meals in schools. Another group ventured to Trenton’s Capital City Farm, exploring urban agriculture in action. 

Day 2 of the NJ Farm to School Academy was a day of team building, hands-on learning, and inspiration as participants continued exploring how to strengthen their Farm to School efforts. 

The day kicked off at the Middlesex County EARTH Center, where teams immersed themselves in “Harvesting Teamwork”—a garden-based team-building experience that blended collaboration with real-world sustainability practices. From herb and sensory gardens to compost stations and pollinator habitats, teams rotated through interactive stations. 

In the afternoon, participants gathered at Rutgers’ Institute for Food, Nutrition & Health for a nutrition education standards update, followed by a plenary on the power of school and community gardens to improve student wellness, strengthen food systems, and build healthier school communities.

The Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program featured a pop-up, where teams discovered fun, visual strategies—like themed produce trays—to help students get excited about trying FFVP vegetables.

The learning continued with a series of breakout sessions featuring hands-on, practical workshops on global food systems education, community composting, climate action through food, and garden-integrated teaching. Each session equipped participants with new tools and ideas to bring back to their districts.

The day ended on a delicious note with an informal farm-to-table gathering at Rutgers Gardens, where participants enjoyed a locally sourced meal, toured the student garden, and connected with agricultural leaders and partners.

The final day of the three-day NJ Farm to School Academy Pilot summer series offered participants a mix of hands-on experiences, collaboration, and reflection, wrapping up the kickoff for their pilot year.

The morning began with a choice to visit Reed’s Organic Farm or Quality Bay Clams. At Reed's Organic farm, teams explored small-scale school gardening techniques and participated in a quick pickling session, turning fresh, seasonal produce into preserved creations. At Quality Bay Clams, participants toured a working clam farm, learned about sustainable aquaculture practices, followed by a 30-minute presentation from the NJDEP Shell Recycling Program team, highlighting efforts to return used shells to the ocean for oyster reef restoration and coastal habitat enhancement.

The full group convened for an opening session, group photo, and team-based action planning. Teams then delivered their presentations - designed to gather peer feedback - sharing their goals, value statement, and action plans to strengthen their work through collective insight. The day—and the summer series—concluded with the “Onion Ring” closing circle, where participants reflected on key takeaways, celebrated accomplishments, and set intentions for continuing their Farm to School work throughout the year.