Aroostook County Local Foods Training

Aroostook County Local Foods Training

Morning Session (Open to Nutrition Directors and their staff 9am - 1pm) Present Strategies to Increase Fruit & Vegetable Consumption: Implement practical strategies to encourage students to eat more local fruits and vegetables. Increase Food Preparation Skills: Learn new ways to utilize value-added local products and create appealing dishes. Expand Knowledge of Local Food Systems: Understand aquaculture, microgreens, and school gardens as potential sources of food for schools. Enhance Recipe Development and Resources: Explore diverse recipe sources for school nutrition programs; Learn how to substitute ingredients for allergies. Afternoon Session (Open to Farmers, Teachers and Directors from 1pm -4pm) Improve Food Procurement Practices: The basics of food grading systems, order sizing, and various procurement methods. Strengthen Local Food Education: Develop collaborative relationships with teachers, ME Ag in the Classroom, SNAP-Ed, and FFA to integrate local food education into the curriculum. Build Relationships with Local Farmers: Connect with farmers to initiate conversations about sourcing local products. Gather Data on Student Preferences: Collect information on students' favorite fruits and vegetables to inform menu planning.