News : From Old School to VS schools: Program brings local produce to local lunch rooms

Mike Elwick welcomed another important visitor, Farm to School Regional Director Robert Gorman.

Farm to School Regional Director Robert Gorman takes a photo of the Tilford salad bar.

The Farm to School program encourages healthier eating via a partnership between growers & schools.

Early in the school year, Vinton-Shellsburg students enjoyed something that is extremely rare for school lunches: Ears of sweet corn. 

The students eagerly lined up for the treat from Old School Produce Co. and Mike Elwick, whose staff shucked all of the corn. The 94 dozen ears were quickly consumed. 

The students loved it, said VS Food Service Director Karen Ackman. 

The sweet corn is just one of many items that have begun to flow from Old School to the local schools through the federal Farm to School program.

Regional FTS Director Robert Gorman visited Vinton Tuesday as part of a tour of schools and produce-growing operations. He toured Old Produce, then visited the Tilford lunch room. 

Elwick and Gorman, joined by Benton Development Group Director EmilyUpah, ate lunch at Tilford. Nothing from Old School was on the salad bar on this particular Tuesday. Gorman, as well as school officials and Elwick, are working to make locally-grown produce from Elwick and others a regular salad bar feature.

The whole purpose of the visit, said Gorman, is to help V-S and growers like Elwick to expand the program. 

"We are just here to facilitate things," Gorman said, as he toured the gardens and indoor growing operations at Old School. 

Thousands of growers and schools throughout the U.S. participate in the program, which received a boost through the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.

The program is just beginning in Vinton. Elwick is the only local produce grower who is participating so far, but he said it is very easy for producers to sign up for the program. 

Old School has provided just a few items, including lettuce and tomatoes; Elwick has been working with Ackman and VS Superintendent Mary Jo Hainstock on expanding the program. 

Gorman also met with the VS leaders, to look for ways to facilitate the expansion of the program. 

One of the challenges, said Gorman, is the cost; he is working with schools and producers to find ways to make the program affordable for the schools as well as profitable for the growers. 

While Elwick has so far provided items on an as-requested basis, he is beginning to work with the schools on long-term arrangements.