We in La Plata County are blessed with a robust Farm to School program, thanks to the hard work and tenacity of many individuals. Being the mom of a preschooler attending Durango 9-R Preschool, I was able to experience that firsthand yesterday at the Thanksgiving Lunch sponsored at the Durango 9-R schools. The highlights of the meal were the real turkey that was cooked at the cafeteria, mashed local potatoes and gravy, and a roasted local root vegetable medley. My kid gobbled it up – roasted carrots, beets, turnips, onions, rutabagas, and all (followed by the pumpkin custard, of course).
What does it take to put on an event like this? Dedication and hard work on the part of the food service staff, certainly, but in terms of quantity, 2100 lbs of potatoes and 1210 lbs of root vegetables were ordered from local growers. That sounds like a lot of vegetables, but consider during the 2013-2014 school year, Durango 9-R purchased over 19,000 lbs of local produce (and pancake mix) from 17 local farmers. This year, they’ve purchased local cucumbers, potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, apples, peppers, kale, and beef from local farmers for other meals. One such meal was the Harvest Stew for Colorado Proud Day.
Thanksgiving represents a wonderful intersection of food and giving thanks. I’m thankful for our local farmers and ranchers; I’m thankful for what local food, and the education surrounding it, can do for our kids; I’m thankful to know my kid’s school district sees the importance of local food. Will you have local food on your table at Thanksgiving? It’s worth it, trust me.
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