• Lowell Farm to School logo 

     

    🍓 Lowell Farm to School uses local food to celebrate our wellness, education, and resilience as a culturally diverse community. It is a coalition of teachers, administrators, nutrition professionals, non-profits, and local businesses.

    🍓 Lowell Farm to School is a part of the national Farm-to-School movement, strengthening the connection between communities and local food producers. 

    🍓 Farm-to-School activities fall into three categories: 

    Cafeteria:

    • We believe in buying local produce, sourcing 100% local lettuce grown at Little Leaf Farms in Devens, MA!
    • Lowell Public Schools students have access to a breakfast or lunch item featuring local products through our participation in the state's Harvest of the Month program. 

      • The Harvest of the Month (HOTM) program allows students the opportunity to eat seasonally and locally while trying new recipes. HOTM shows children the importance of supporting farmers, and building excitement around school meals.
         
    • Food service professionals in Lowell have semi-annual Farm-to-School training, covering scratch cooking, seasonal menu planning, and nutrition education.

    • For elementary schools participating in the USDA Fresh Fruits and Vegetables program, local fruits and vegetables make a regular snack appearance on the menu.

    Classroom:

    • Mill City Grows has started over 16 school gardens across the district, managed by teachers, administrators, and community members.

     

    • LPSD partners with classrooms and after-school programs throughout the district to provide nutrition education programming.

     

    • Partners like Mill City Grows provide quarterly hands-on professional development opportunities for Lowell Public Schools educators to help make their gardens and Farm-to-School curriculum come alive.

     

    Food to Farm picture collage of community engagement

     

    Community:

    • After-school and summer enrichment collaborates with a rich network of agricultural, STEM, and food-based non-profit such as, Mill City Grows, Mass Audubon, Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust, Horne Family Farms, Green Dragons and passionate educators throughout the district. 
    • Mill City Grows offers Farm-to-Table Family Cooking Classes, rotating across the district and hosted in partnership with LPSD food service professionals in school kitchens.

    • District/community stakeholders participate in a Farm to School District Committee each year, meeting quarterly and exploring opportunities to expand Farm to School in Lowell.