12/17/2025
🙌 NPS’ Freshampton Programming Takes the Stage at the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in New Mexico
🥬 Our district’s deep commitment to student wellness and resilient food systems received national recognition this month. A team representing Northampton Public Schools — including our School Nutrition Director, Mistelle Hannah, Farm to School Coordinator, Bryan Jersky, along with representation from Chicopee Fresh and a representative from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) — was invited to present at the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on December 3rd.
🍎 The presentation, titled “Building Capacity: Structuring Resilient Farm to School Programs at the SFA and State Level Collaborative Strategic Planning for Farm to Cafeteria,” showcased the decade of experience NPS has in integrating local food into school meals. Our team led an interactive workshop that featured our local accomplishments while guiding over 50 participants from across the country through an interactive simulation. This gave attendees a chance to design their own hypothetical sustainable farm to school programs with the presentation team’s support. The session generated an exciting buzz, with many attendees praising the inspiration and practical impact our program model will have on their own strategic planning efforts.
