Delaware Township School receives New Jersey Farm to School award

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture presented Delaware Township School in Hunterdon County with its Best of Farm to School Award for efforts to incorporate local food and agriculture into school meals and student education.

The school was recognized during the 16th annual Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week and Fourth Annual Ag Literacy Week, held Sept. 22-26.

Delaware Township School incorporates agriculture through farm visits, farmer presentations, school-grown produce and animal care. Its Garden Club teaches students to plant, grow and harvest food, while its Crop Box program provides school-grown produce to local residents.

The school also features Jersey Fresh items on its menu and works with neighboring farms, including Sweet Valley, which supplies fresh produce for the cafeteria. Food waste is shared with home flocks and farm animals or composted for school gardens.

“By using hands-on learning, farmer presentations, including farm visits, and incorporating Jersey Fresh and school-grown produce in their menus, students are able to see the process of growing and harvesting the food they get to enjoy,” said Ed Wengryn, New Jersey secretary of agriculture.

The school also uses a hydroponic tower to grow greens and starter plants and is working to add a greenhouse to its Kitchen Garden to extend the growing season.

New Jersey established Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week in 2010. The program highlights connections between schools and New Jersey farmers and encourages schools to incorporate local produce and agriculture education.