Q&A
Discussion on using hydroponic produce in school cafeterias
2:19:49
·
125 sec
Council Member Gale A. Brewer inquires about the challenges of using hydroponically grown produce in school cafeterias, particularly noting the disconnect between high-quality hydroponic lettuce and subpar salad bars. Representatives from NY Sun Works and Teens For Food Justice respond, explaining their approaches to distributing and using the produce grown in schools.
- NY Sun Works emphasizes classroom tastings and sending produce home with students to maintain their connection to what they've grown.
- Teens For Food Justice reports success in distributing produce to school cafeterias, donating it for use in salad bars.
- Brewer notes ongoing issues at specific schools and plans to follow up offline.
Gale A. Brewer
2:19:49
Thank you.
2:19:50
I know I love your hydroponics program, but my question is, I've had trouble getting the Department of Education to agree to utilize the food.
2:20:00
They understandably, folks wanna take it home.
2:20:03
That's great.
2:20:04
And you do tastings, and that's great.
2:20:06
But I can't tell you how many times the salad bar sucks at the school.
2:20:11
And they see the wonderful hydroponics lettuce right there, and they can't use it.
2:20:16
So I'm just wondering, is that a discussion, or is that something that we still have to work out?
2:20:21
Or
Megan Nordgrén
2:20:22
I know in the past, it was able to be used.
2:20:25
So and but we at New York Sunworks, we do since we're growing it in the classroom, we really strongly advocate to for the students to taste it in the classroom and to bring it home.
2:20:35
Because if the if you remove it from the classroom and and the connection to to where they grew it and how they grew it, they lose their interest in it.
2:20:43
So 98% of the kids in the classroom are willing to taste the food and are excited about it and passionate about it and just truly joyful.
2:20:50
But if you take it and put it in the salad bar, then it becomes something that might not be as they don't feel that connection that I grew this.
2:20:54
I grew that.
2:20:56
So we through our harvest program, we and we send the food home with information about experiences, and then encourage students to share back what they're learning from their families and to to build that homeschool connection as well.
2:21:15
So, but in the past, you know, schools have been able to use it, so I'm surprised to hear that they couldn't use it in the but maybe
Emily Miller
2:21:23
If I can also add to an answer, at the TFFJ 6 at the 6 farms that we're operating in New York City, we are able to distribute our produce to the cafeteria.
2:21:32
They are our 1st and highest priority customer, if we will.
2:21:35
Though they do not pay for the food, we donate it to the salad bars.
2:21:39
And as much as possible, the school cafeterias love to find ways to incorporate it into the food that they are able to prepare, although most kitchens are not, set up for scratch cooking.
Gale A. Brewer
2:21:50
Alright.
2:21:50
Well, I'll talk offline about King's.
2:21:52
That's not happening.
2:21:53
Okay.
2:21:53
Thank you.
2:21:53
Yes, sir.
