Cafeteria, Classroom, & Community
May Harvest: Leafy Greens
Squash Recipe
Freshampton Brings Food Education to the Classroom! Both In School and Field Trips!
Flex Farm - Indoor Hydroponic System
The Flex Farm is the most efficient, scalable, and transformative indoor, vertical hydroponic technology on the planet. By carefully controlling everything plants need to thrive, each Flex Farm can grow more than 394 pounds of produce annually. They’re portable and only require a standard electrical outlet and less than 10 square feet of space.
Link to Learn more about Fork Farms Flex Farm Tower
The amazing team at Freshampton researched the innovative company, Fork Farms, and invested time and valuable grant writing talent to secure two Flex Farms Grow Towers. Freshampton partnered with NHS teacher Megan Murphy, to bring one of the hydroponic towers to her classroom for school year 2024-2025. The second grow tower will be located in the cafeteria for the fall of 2025. It will be exciting to grow our own lettuce and serve it right on the line. This is as local as one can be, traveling only a few feet to the serving line.
Photo Below: From NHS Growtower to NHS Salad Bar! May 2025...Northampton Public Schools Grows their own Lettuce!
Take a Look at some of the Amazing Local Farms and Vendor’s the
Northampton Public School’s Nutrition Department, Freshampton,
uses to source items served in all our schools.
Here's a more detailed explanation of Farm to School:
Focus on Freshness and Local Sourcing:
Farm-to-school initiatives aim to provide schools with fresh, locally-grown, and seasonal produce. This means that the food should be sourced from farms that are relatively close to the school, reducing transportation distances and ensuring optimal freshness. For farm-to-school programs, the ideal distance between a farm and a school is generally considered to be within a 400-mile radius to ensure the freshness and sustainability of the food supply.
Benefits of Local Sourcing:
Local sourcing has several benefits, including supporting local farmers, reducing transportation costs and carbon emissions, and promoting a deeper understanding of food systems and seasonality among students.
Farm to School Benefits:
Farm to school initiatives can lead to increased fruit and vegetable consumption, increased physical activity, healthier food choices, improved willingness to try new foods, and increased food system knowledge.