CARVER – The new panini press has proven very popular with Carver schools this year.
Much of the cooking during the pandemic has been scratch cooking using fresh ingredients, and that’s the plan for next year as well.
Despite supply chain challenges, the food services department was able to provide meals to all school students as well as curbside meal collection during the week and weekends in partnership with the Shane Gives Thanks Food Pantry.
Director of operations and finance Ron Griffin said food safety is addressed at Carver, by director of food services Theresa Vernazzaro and others.
“We have a lot of families struggling with this and our team has done a tremendous job of making sure families are supported inside and outside of school,” he said. .
Last month, the Biden administration announced the extension of a federal program aimed at ensuring that students across the country receive free meals, regardless of the family’s economic status and ability to pay.
Griffin said schools are expected to serve nearly 150,000 meals to Carver students next year, with the majority of the money for fiscal year 2022 expected to come from federal reimbursements.
There are also plans to continue collaboration with the high school’s Environmental and Culinary Pathways program and the Massachusetts Farm to School Institute as well as outside organizations so that students can better understand what it takes to bring food to the school. table of restaurants across the country. .
“We are working with the Pathways team to begin helping our students learn about this science and ultimately grow foods that will end up on cafeteria trays here at Carver Schools,” Griffin said.
Another goal for next year is the development of a terraponic indoor growing system to grow produce year-round in a community where agriculture is an integral part of the economy.
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