Corn On The Cob, Green Beans On Menu During Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week

Celebrate Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week in Wicomico Schools with fresh local corn on the cob (Wednesday), green beans (Thursday) and "butter fries" (Sept. 26) -- butternut squash cut to resemble French fries, baked, and lightly seasoned with cinnamon. Fresh local fruits and vegetables have been served in school cafeterias since the start of the school year when available from local farmers.

These items are on our school menu marketed as local items, and all are from farms in Wicomico County or other Maryland counties. "Since the beginning of school, we have been serving local produce to our students based on its availability," said Eric T. Goslee, Food Services Supervisor. "Some additional items we had planned to serve fell through during the rainstorms in August."

Students in hundreds of public schools across the state will get a taste of fresh, Maryland-grown and produced food in their lunches during the fifth annual Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week, Sept. 17-21. A statewide celebration with special educational activities and local lunch with students, farmers, and state and local officials took place at North Dorchester High School in Dorchester County Tuesday, Sept. 18, followed by a tour of S.B. Farms in Hurlock, a bison operation.

Now celebrating its fifth year, Homegrown School Lunch Week is an element of the Jane Lawton Farm to School Program, when SB 158 was signed into law by Governor O’Malley following the 2008 Session of the Maryland General Assembly. The program is designed to help educate students about where their food comes from, how it is produced, and the benefits of a healthy diet as well as to expand markets for Maryland farmers. More information: www.marylandfarmtoschool.org.