Forming connections with your local farmers and producers is an important part of Farm to School. The partnerships developed between Gaston County School Nutrition, N.C. Cooperative Extension, and Deep Roots CPS Farm are a great example of just that!

Director Angela Calamia saw a need for better produce, especially in the lettuce they ordered for school salads. Due to supply chain issues, the lettuce received was not of the best quality, which made it hard to put together a nice salad for their kids. Much of their lettuce was shipped from as far away as California. This drastic decline in produce quality sparked a need for change.

Youtube video highlighting Gaston County Nutrition, Extension, and Deep Roots CPS

Through a partnership with N.C. Cooperative Extension, Gaston County School & Community Garden Coordinator, Marcus Cyprian, helped set a vision for the plot of land immediately adjacent to the school’s central kitchen. This land was a unique opportunity. The School Nutrition Center is one of the only central kitchens in the region. Cyprian notes, “They make everything and truck it out to all of the schools, Monday - Thursday.” Both breakfast and lunch are made in the center and sent to schools within the district.

Cherie Jzar, Co-Founder and President of Deep Roots CPS, notes, “At the core of our mission is to cultivate local agriculture. Growing food that can sustain communities and feed people. Most of the food at local schools is not necessarily grown in their communities, and it doesn’t hold the nutritional density that it could have if it were local.” Children are receiving high quality food. Director Angela Calamia acknowledges, “It's just the freshest and most nutritious products we can provide our kids.” Access to readily available fresh produce allows school nutrition to flexibly modify the weekly menus as needed, but also provides seasonal produce to children during the summer months.

Gaston County’s School Nutrition Center serves as a great procurement role model for other counties across the state. Its success, partnership with Extension, and local farmers are truly inspirational. For more North Carolina stories, please visit our YouTube page at youtube.com/@NCSUFarmtoSchool.