By: Laurie Pattington, Farm to School Teacher
Newfield’s Farm to School Program is celebrating National Farm to School Month throughout October. In 2010, Congress declared October National Farm to School Month, recognizing the important role farm to school programs play in promoting wellbeing among children and strong local economies. This year’s theme is “Growing for the Future.” Farm to school endeavors to ensure that young children and students eat healthy, fresh, and locally grown meals in schools, and that farmers earn a reliable source of income by feeding their community. Fresh, locally sourced meals nourish our bodies while also presenting a more sustainable option for our planet.
As students and teachers harvest the last of the garden produce, we also celebrate providing fresh, nourishing foods to kids in Newfield cafeterias with October Harvest of the Month. Apple taste tests in the cafeterias spotlight New York's thriving apple industry and the success of the enduring national farm to school movement. Newfield’s Farm to School Teacher, Laurie Pattington, digs into grade level curriculum to connect each elementary classroom to relevant Ag in the Classroom lessons and works with classes to prepare for the second annual Fall Harvest Dinner.
This year’s National Farm to School Month theme, Growing for the Future, emphasizes the role of farm to school and early care in creating thriving communities now and in the future. All of our futures depend on the farmers who feed us, take care of our soil and waterways, and protect seeds for the next harvest—but their work often goes unseen and undervalued. By investing in programs that support local farms, producers, and fishermen, and enable school meal programs nationwide to buy directly from them, we can create a thriving food future that puts people and planet first.
Newfield Child Nutrition is a part of the Tompkins County School Food Reboot (TCSFR) program. In partnership with the Chef Ann Foundation and the Park Foundation, Newfield has shifted its child nutrition program to emphasize whole ingredients, scratch-cooked meals, and procuring NY foods wherever possible. At the end of September, Newfield’s School Food Program was certified by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) to receive reimbursement under the 30% New York State Initiative. During the 2025-2026 School Year, Newfield cafeterias served over 30% New York grown food including dairy, beef, and produce. By participating in the 30% New York initiative, Newfield School Food Program not only provides healthy choices for school lunches but also supports the local economy by purchasing products from New York farmers. The 30% NYS Initiative reimburses successful applications with up to 4 times the state reimbursement per meal. Many of these crops come from Tompkins County. Newfield Schools are committed to this shift in our cafeteria. As stated in the Newfield district wellness policy,“ access to whole clean food is key to developing and maintaining the long-term health of our students, physically, mentally, and academically.”
Over the past decade, the farm to school movement has exploded across the United States, reaching millions of students in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. Territories. From school gardens and farm field trips to local food on cafeteria trays, farm to school practices help children learn about where food comes from and make healthier choices while also creating new markets for local and regional farmers.
“Farm to school is an important tool in creating a just food system that provides nourishing food to all kids,” said Jessica Gudmundson, Co-Executive Director of the National Farm to School Network. “There are important economic benefits, as well. In the most recent USDA Farm to School Census, schools reported purchasing $1.8 billion in local food from farmers, ranchers, fishermen and food processors in their communities.”
Newfield’s Farm to School Program received support for local procurement during the 2024-2025 school year from Farm to Institute NYS and Cornell Cooperative Extension.
As part of Newfield’s ongoing Farm to School work, the school community is invited to the Second Annual Fall Harvest Dinner on Wednesday, November 13 at 6 p.m. in the Newfield High School Cafeteria. The dinner will feature volunteer-prepared dishes that celebrate the season’s root vegetables and the partnership between students, staff, and families.
Be on the lookout for a save the date and more details about the Harvest Dinner in the coming weeks!
For more information about farm to school in New York, visit https://finys.org/.