Annual Report

Members & Meeting Dates

Meeting Agendas 2021-2022

Grade 9 students attending the freshman orientation tried out the new smoothie bicycle while sampling delicious smoothies containing local yogurt!

Smithfield High School celebrated National Breakfast Week on March 10th. We were joined by Commissioner Infante-Green, Pat the Patriot, and representatives from the USDA for joining us. Thank you to Chartwells for the amazing menu including fresh, local foods!

Smithfield’s food service provider, Chartwells, hosted “Rhody Loves Local” month this January.  Every Thursday, Chartwells created lunch menus for secondary schools featuring local foods.  Menu choices included vegetarian chili, kale and cranberry salad, butternut squash soup, local German potato salad, and more.  Rhody Loves Local month was such as success that Chartwells will host the program again in March.

Students at LaPerche and Winsor tasted a delicious kale salad on Kale Day 2020! This is part of our farm-to-school initiative with the goal of encouraging a healthy lifestyle by increasing access to locally grown fruits and veggies. Thank you to our partner Chartwells!

On Wednesday, October 28th, Smithfield High School students enjoyed food tastings and a delicious lunch consisting of produce from local farms. Ken Ayers, Chief of RIDEM’s Division of Agriculture, read a proclamation from the governor for Farm to School Month - October, 2020.

Students tried apple cider from Jaswell Farms, apples from Steere Farm, and Kale from Pezza Farm and those choosing a school lunch ate potatoes from Quonset View Farm and vegetables from other local sources, complementing a delicious pork loin. The meal also included an apple slaw, apple sauce, and apple cobbler.

The event was funded from an $87k Farm to School grant, the purpose of which is to improve access to local foods and develop an understanding of the importance of healthy food choices. 

Thank you to Farm Fresh RI and Chartwells for providing our OCRS first graders the opportunity to visit Jaswell's Farm for a pumpkin picking adventure!!! Students in the first grade learn about seeds and how they produce new plants.