School of Philadelphia Eat Fresh Here

The following description is a summary of our farm to school plan funded by a 2014 USDA Farm to School Program grant: The School District of Philadelphia Eat Fresh Here project will freeze local seasonal produce during the months of June and July so that it can be used during the winter months when such produce is not locally available. Produce will be frozen at a central location and maintained in freezers in two to three locations. The first year of the project will be a pilot focused on one product, such as blueberries, for two schools. Having a pilot program in the first year will allow the School District of Philadelphia to address any challenges that arise in areas such as, but not limited to, freezing, distribution, taste testing and recipe development. Blueberries will be used in breakfast items such as yogurt, baked goods and oatmeal. In the second year, we plan on freezing two products, such as blueberries and collard greens. The program will be introduced to an additional five schools for a total of seven participating schools.