EAST MACHIAS — Economic organizations in Washington County are working together to organize a farm-to-school workshop for farmers and school cafeteria managers to help them learn ways to bring locally grown vegetables, fruits and meats into local school cafeterias.
The workshop will be held 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Elm Street School. It will include a talk by Anupama Joshi, co-director of the National Farm-to-School Network. The network is a collaboration of the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute and the Center for Food and Justice.
“This workshop offers sessions for farmers who want to market to schools, for teachers who are looking for ways to bring nutritional and food-related curriculum into the classroom, and for cafeteria managers who want to learn about bringing local ingredients into their breakfast, lunch and snack menus,” said Elizabeth Sprague of the Downeast Business Alliance.
Morning session panels will feature David Findley, National AG Teacher of the Year from Lubec; Brian Leavitt, student entrepreneur program instructor at Machias Memorial High School; Dustin Eirdosh, an agriculture in the classroom curriculum developer; Kevin Athearn, resource economic professor at the University of Maine at Machias; and representatives from the award-winning Farm-to-School program of Belfast’s Troy Howard Middle School.
Afternoon sessions will include Margaret Erquhart, Lubec Elementary School food service manager; Michael Buckley, Lubec Elementary administrator; Helen Deuschle of Cold Spring Farm in East Machias; and Linda Mailhot, Mount Desert Elementary School cafeteria manager.
A free lunch will be prepared from local ingredients and served as a typical school lunch offering.
There is no cost to attend, but registration is necessary. Call 733-4760 to sign up for the event.