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Thanks to the efforts of the OSD Farm to School Program, starting on September 29th the ground beef used in school meals will be sourced from Greenfield Farm in Iowa County, less than an hour from our schools.
Farm Spotlight: Greenfield Farm is owned and operated by the Gruenenfelder family (pictured below). Their first generation farm began as a dairy cow operation, but they have recently started raising pigs, cows, and other animals for meat as well. Jason and Kris Gruenenfelder are committed to sustainability in their agricultural practices. They have worked over the last few years with the National Resource Conservation Service to transition to regenerative grazing for their animals. This method helps to build soil and store carbon, as well as keeping the animals happy and free to roam. They are also big believers in our Farm to School and local food goals, and are excited to be providing local food for school meals. They already work with other regional school districts to provide local protein to kids, and we are happy that they will be working with us as well! In a few weeks, the Farm to School team will have the opportunity to visit Greenfield Farm and learn more about their operation. We will take notes and videos and share them with students so that they can get to know the people and processes that bring food to their lunch trays.
All About Beef: Our new weekly deliveries of ground beef from Greenfield Farm will play an important role in the meals and nutrition of Oregon students. Ground beef is used in a number of different school meals week to week. Meals made from scratch in our kitchens that will now include Greenfield Farm’s ground beef include the Sloppy Joe, Beef Tacos, Breadsticks with Italian Meat Sauce, and the Homemade Lasagna. In these meals, Greenfield Farm’s ground beef will serve as an important source of protein, which helps build muscle and keep kids energized and focused throughout the day. It also is a good source of iron, which supports red blood cell growth, as well as B vitamins and zinc which keep the immune system healthy.
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AmeriCorps Farm to School Specialist
Hi, my name is Isabel! I am a new F2S Americorp Member this year. My hope as a part of this program is to connect kids with their food, and through that food to the land that is their home. I think that getting into the dirt, whether in a school garden or on a farm field trip, and learning about where our food comes from are super important for building an understanding of where food comes from and what it takes to get it from a seed to your plate. Also, it helps kids get excited to eat the veggies they’re helping to grow! Feel free to get in touch with me at iagreene@oregonsd.net to get involved, ask questions, or share ideas!
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AmeriCorps Farm to School Specialist
Hi, I’m Maddie! My goal is to help our community feel excited about their nutrition. My hope is that we see local foods as a joyful way to connect to the land and to each other. The first step in building a happy and healthy relationship with food is sharing knowledge and creating experiences-- and that is what I’m here for!
Please feel free to share your thoughts, ideas, and questions with me at msmith@oregonsd.net. I would love to hear from you!
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School Nutrition Director
Hello, I’m Sarah, the School Nutrition Director for OSD. Food helps us grow, think, and experience the world. I think it is important to serve healthy meals that feature local produce as well as fruits and vegetables grown in our school gardens. When we see our food grow, we can understand the power it has in our bodies. Food is also fun, playing with your food is an exciting way to feel connected to what you are eating. I often create pictures with my food- it just tastes better when my fruit salad looks like a smiling sun.
*PS: This is a picture of me with my dog, named Rutabaga. His name comes from the root vegetable - rutabaga. The vegetable is known for keeping your heart healthy and your bones strong. Rutabaga and I go on many hikes, so he is helping me stay healthy just like the vegetable.
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Assistant School Nutrition Director
Hi, I’m Shelby, the Assistant Nutrition Director at OSD. Healthy food makes me happy! I love helping people find simple and delicious ways to add lots of veggies, fruit and healthy options into their diet. Farm to School is a fantastic tool in helping students develop an interest in where their favorite foods come from. With this knowledge, our hope is to encourage students to engage and participate in activities that help them learn the joys of agriculture.
