Institute Alumni RSU 89 wins the 2024 USDA Innovation in Preparation of School Meals award! Learn more on the Farm to School Northeast Podcast.
Denise Tapley Proctor, Food Service Director at RSU 89 in Stacyville, Maine
A project of the Northeast Farm to School Collaborative, The Farm to School Northeast Podcast explores the creative ways that local food is getting into school cafeterias and how food system education is playing out in classrooms and school gardens across the Northeast.
In this episode, hear from Denise Tapley Proctor, Food Service Director at RSU 89 in Stacyville, Maine. She discusses the impact of their Farm to School program, which recently won the 2024 USDA Innovation in Preparation of School Meals award.
Congratulations RSU 89!
Denise highlights their use of local produce and meats in scratch-cooked meals, emphasizing community involvement, student taste testing, and the importance of supporting local farmers. Denise also shares her advice for schools looking to implement similar programs, stressing the value of planning, utilizing available resources, and engaging students with hands-on learning experiences like school gardens.
Hear about the ways that the Maine Farm & Sea to School Institute has impacted and supported these efforts, fostering stronger connections between schools, local farms, and fisheries.