By Stephanie Prokop, Staff Writer
CHESTERFIELD — Students, parents and faculty members enjoyed some quality local produce in the first “Farm to School” cooking event hosted by Chesterfield Elementary School on Nov. 20.
Joined by Chef Louis Martinez, from Teresa’s Caffe in Princeton, family members were encouraged to share in healthy food preparation in the school’s multipurpose room with students.
Mr. Martinez created three dishes with local farm-fresh produce, utilizing fall and winter vegetables such as chard and sweet potatoes.
Mr. Martinez created a Swiss chard salad, a sweet potato and Parmesan cheese casserole, and Italian wedding soup.
“There was a presentation on cooking kid-friendly fare, and an emphasis on healthy fruit and vegetable presentation,“” said Amy Coover, an assistant to the district’s business administrator.
Approximately 80 people attended the event, and Fernbrook Farms supplied most of the local produce.
The presentation goes right along with the Farm to Schools program that elementary students are learning about in their classes. Every month, a new local fruit or vegetable is introduced and put in a rotation in the students’ lunch, exposing them to healthy local produce.
“Everyone was very receptive to the program, and it is just a great learning tool,” said Ms. Coover.

