Chartwells K12 Teams Celebrate Farm to School Month by Bringing Local Flavor to the Cafeteria
Community
Our schools across Connecticut celebrated CT Grown for CT Kids Week during National Farm to School Month, connecting classrooms, cafeterias, and communities through local tastings, farmers markets, and farm-to-school learning experiences.
October is National Farm to School Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the connections between students, local food, and the farms that nourish our communities. In Connecticut, this celebration comes to life through CT Grown for CT Kids Week, held during the first full week of October each year.
The statewide initiative shines a spotlight on local agriculture and nutrition education. Across Connecticut, Chartwells K12 teams embraced the spirit of the week with farm-to-school activities, local tastings, and engaging classroom experiences that brought the seed-to-table story to life for students.
Branford Public Schools
The farm came to the classroom at Branford Public Schools with a special visit from South Haven Farms. The visiting farmer shared lessons on seasonal growing, seed collection, harvesting, and the daily routine of caring for animals. Students passed around fresh produce to touch, smell, and explore, engaging their senses and sparking curiosity about how food grows.
Brookfield Public Schools
The Chartwells team at Brookfield Public Schools hosted a flavorful local tasting event featuring roasted summer squash, roasted cauliflower and broccoli, and street corn. Students sampled each dish while learning about the Connecticut farms that grew their food, reinforcing the district’s commitment to fresh, nutritious, and locally sourced meals.
Norwalk Public Schools
October was a celebration of Connecticut agriculture and experiential learning at Norwalk Public Schools. Through our Discovery Kitchen program, students enjoyed a locally sourced, baked-in-house apple crisp alongside a chef-prepared fall harvest ratatouille.
The excitement continued outdoors, where students took part in a hands-on farmers market experience. Equipped with “farm bucks” and reusable shopping bags, they practiced budgeting as they selected from a colorful array of Connecticut-grown produce like sweet corn, apples, delicata squash, zucchini, and more. Educational handouts accompanied each item, offering nutrition facts and preparation tips to encourage healthy eating at home.
Norwich Free Academy
Students at Norwich Free Academy took a bite out of Connecticut’s apple harvest with an Apple Crunch Day celebration. Featuring cider from Buell’s Orchard and four varieties of local apples, the event encouraged students to enjoy the flavors of fall while recognizing the value of supporting local farms. The simple act of “crunching” together created a shared moment of community and pride in Connecticut-grown products.
Stamford Public Schools
Farm to school programming took center stage at Stamford Public Schools. During CT Grown for CT Kids Week, the Chartwells team partnered with Thompson Hospitality to host a Chef’s Table lunch takeover, where students enjoyed a locally inspired meal featuring grilled chicken, whole-grain pasta, and fall harvest ratatouille. Discovery Kitchen tastings added an educational twist, highlighting how seasonal produce makes its way from seed to table.
Beyond the cafeteria, students explored sustainable agriculture through a video tour of Fairgate Farm, an urban farm in Stamford. They learned about composting, pollinators, and hydroponics, and later visited an outdoor student farmers market. There, they used “farm bucks” to purchase local produce and engage with representatives from Sardilli Produce, connecting classroom learning with real-world food systems.
From apple crunches to farmers markets and local tastings, we’re proud of how our teams demonstrated how food education can inspire healthy habits and lasting connections. Together with local farms, state partners, and educators, we continue to nurture a generation that values good food, sustainability, and the power of community.
Interested in learning how to bring farm-to-school programs like these to your district? Click “Get Started” above!