October is National Farm to School Month, and it is a time to celebrate the connections that are happening all over the country between schools and local farms.
Locally, the Marin Organic Glean Team started the day before celebrating National Gleaning Day, Sept. 30, by visiting La Tecera Farms. More than 300 pounds of organic tomatoes were gleaned in less than two hours! There were thousands of pounds of tomatoes left in the field. Wouldn't it be great if all these nutritional tomatoes could make it to our students instead of becoming plant food out in the fields?
Funny story ... we did not have any mode of distribution on Sunday to bring the tomatoes back to Novato, so I volunteered to pack them in my car, front seat, back, and trunk — all 60 bags! Ever wonder what your car would smell like the next day after 250 pounds of tomatoes sit all night? I do.
On Monday, the 60 bags of tomatoes were delivered to Loma Verde Elementary School to be give to families during their Market Day on Oct. 3. A flier was distributed to all families about gleaning and a history and recipe for delicious gazpacho.
Please contact me for more information on gleaning or visit our FANS website.
Miguel Villerreal
Director, Food and Nutritional Services, NUSD
