Northampton Public Schools

Farm to School in Northampton

A yellow circle with the text 'Freshampton Farm to School Northampton' and illustrations of a goat eating an apple and an open book.

Cafeteria, Classroom, & Community

Northeast Food For Schools Grant is making a difference in Northampton

Massachusetts Farm to Schools: Highlights Northampton
Learn More about how the NPS School Nutrition Department (Freshampton) is using the Northeast Food For Schools Federal Grant to enhance our program.

Freshampton in the Cafeteria: April Harvest of the Month is Dairy

A watercolor illustration of dairy products, including a carton of milk, a glass of milk, a wedge of cheese, and a dollop of cream, with the word 'April' written below.

Links to Learn More About Massachusetts Dairy

Massachusetts Dairy Farmers

Dairy Farms at Mass.Gov

Massachusetts Association of Dairy Farmers

A graphic promoting 'Harvest of the Month: Dairy' with illustrations of milk, cheese, and a glass of milk.

A parfait with vanilla yogurt, strawberries, whipped cream, and granola, with a container of SideHill Farm organic vanilla lowfat yogurt in the background.

A selection of dairy products including Greek yogurt, lowfat milk, chocolate milk, and sour cream.

Hood Milk is Local!

Here's a detailed breakdown:

Headquarters: Lynnfield, Massachusetts
Manufacturing Plants:
- Agawam, Massachusetts
- Charlestown, Massachusetts (historical plant)
- Batavia, New York (purchased a former Muller Quaker plant)
- West Springfield, Massachusetts (Agri-Mark plant)
- Wilbraham, Massachusetts (Dairy Farmers of America, Friendly's ice cream plant)
- Other locations across the United States (12 manufacturing plants total)
History: Founded in 1846 in Charlestown, Massachusetts, by Harvey Perley Hood
Key Facts:
- Hood is a leading dairy brand in New England.
- The Agawam plant was the first fluid dairy processing plant to receive ENERGY STAR certification.
- Hood buys milk through two farmer-owned cooperatives: Agri-Mark and Dairy Farmers of America.
- The company is known for its fresh, quality dairy products.

Click Here to learn about Hood Milk

Learn the History of Hood Milk

We buy our Milk from All Star Dairy

A local company working with local farms

Learn more about All Star Dairy

A carton of Hood 1% lowfat milk, with a red logo and blue and white label.

March Harvest of the Month: Potatoes

A close-up view of a pile of golden potatoes.

Potato Fun Facts

There are more than 4,000 different varieties of potatoes in the world.
In the USA there are more than 200 varieties sold.
Potatoes are grown in all 50 states of the USA.
Potatoes were the first vegetable grown in space.
Potatoes are fat-free, gluten-free, plant-based, cholesterol-free, and sodium-free.
Potatoes are a good source of several vitamins and minerals, including potassium, folate, and vitamins C and B6.

Taste Testing Happens All Year in the Cafeteria

Freshampton in the Classroom

Freshampton Brings Food Education to the Classroom! Both In School and Field Trips!

Freshampton and the Community

Take a Look at some of the Amazing Local Farms and Vendor’s the

Northampton Public School’s Nutrition Department, Freshampton,

uses to source items served in all our schools.

Links to Local Vendors

Define Community: What makes our food local?

Here's a more detailed explanation of Farm to School:

Focus on Freshness and Local Sourcing:
Farm-to-school initiatives aim to provide schools with fresh, locally-grown, and seasonal produce. This means that the food should be sourced from farms that are relatively close to the school, reducing transportation distances and ensuring optimal freshness. For farm-to-school programs, the ideal distance between a farm and a school is generally considered to be within a 400-mile radius to ensure the freshness and sustainability of the food supply.

Benefits of Local Sourcing:
Local sourcing has several benefits, including supporting local farmers, reducing transportation costs and carbon emissions, and promoting a deeper understanding of food systems and seasonality among students.

Farm to School Benefits:
Farm to school initiatives can lead to increased fruit and vegetable consumption, increased physical activity, healthier food choices, improved willingness to try new foods, and increased food system knowledge.