This month we are introducing students across the community to another refreshing summer treat still available locally: cucumbers! Starbright Acres Family Farm provided us with Persian cucumbers for students to taste and learn about in their classroom and enjoy on the salad bar in the cafeteria. Distinct from the more common varieties of cucumber, Persian … Read more
October is National Farm to School Month, a time to celebrate connections happening all over the country between schools, food and local farmers! This year, the theme is Growing for the Future. Farm to School ensures that students eat healthy, fresh, and locally grown meals in schools, and that farmers earn a reliable source of … Read more
We’re starting off the school year strong with our first ever Harvest of the Month: melons! These tasty summer treats were a hit this week with students both in the classroom and- new this year- on the salad bar. Not just your everyday watermelon, there were four different possibilities for kids to try: Crenshaw, Galia, … Read more
We are excited to launch a new program this year: Harvest of the Month! This classic Farm to School activity introduces students to an in-season fruit or vegetable each month to encourage exploration and healthy eating. In Western Nevada County the program has also focused on sourcing the Harvest of the Month as locally as … Read more
After decades of care and dedication, it’s time to put down the ladles and celebrate – two of our longest-serving team members are heading into a well-earned retirement! Theresa Ruiz has spent an incredible 28 years feeding students – 27 years with Nevada Joint Union High School District and this final year helping launch Community Roots as the … Read more
Students across our community have been enjoying delicious organic produce this week and last that was made possible by a collaboration with two other neighboring school districts. We’re big fans of the quality school food produced by the dedicated teams at Tahoe Truckee School District and Western Placer School District, and appreciate the friendship and … Read more
“We’re basically sitting here with the biggest restaurant in Nevada County”- with a combined total of more than 6,000 meals served each day, we’re pretty sure Leo got that right! Last month we were thrilled to be invited to join the Garden Forum crew at KVMR for an interview about our shared passion for feeding … Read more
Have you ever looked at our lunch menus and wondered, “What is a ‘Regenerative Burger?’” Well you aren’t alone- we’ve been getting that question a lot and are glad to have an opportunity to explain! Regenerative agriculture is an approach to farming that focuses on soil health, biodiversity, and strengthening the ecosystem. In ranching this … Read more
Have you ever seen a fruit that looks like a regular kiwi on the outside but has a bright red surprise inside? Say hello to red kiwi! Students across our community are getting several chances to meet this fun and unexpected variety, starting with classroom tastings through Sierra Harvest’s Harvest of the Month program last … Read more
Students in 4th and 5th grades at Ready Springs Elementary School competed this week to see which class could reduce their school lunch waste by the largest amount. Starting with a weigh-in on Monday to establish a baseline, a team from Nevada County CalFresh Healthy Living taught students about how to reduce waste why it’s … Read more