On Wednesday, September 24th, students at PS#4-Albio Sires Elementary School in West New York and West New York Middle School, pickled local vegetables with NuWay Concessionaires regional director Sal Valenza and NJ Farm to School Network’s Programs Coordinator, Chris Cirkus. Even the Memorial High School TV Station students got in on the action, interviewing Mr. Valenza and Ms. Cirkus. Students at both schools discussed the reasons behind canning and pickling as a way to prolong the harvest season and allowing different foods to be enjoyed throughout all seasons. Experienced-based, hands-on learning turned into a fun morning for both classes.
The produce, which included cucumbers, carrots, jalapenos, garlic, onions and ghost peppers, was provided by Zone 7, a New Jersey-based food distribution company that sources from regional farms, started by one of New Jersey Farm to School Network’s co-founders, Mikey Azzara. Grape leaves were picked from old vines at Memorial High School and added to jars to help retain the crunch of the vegetables.
The students in both schools experimented with flavor profiles, figuring out which vegetables they’d like to add to their own personal pickle jars. Some students were more adventurous, adding several slices of ghost peppers while others chose vanilla beans and jalapenos, going for the milder profile.
After adding hot brine consisting of equal parts water and vinegar along with added salt and sugar, the jars were processed in a hot water bath in the cafeteria at the Middle School. The jars were then cooled and stored for two weeks to allow all the flavors to meld.
On October 8, Mr. Valenza and Ms. Cirkus met again with students to taste their creations. The children at PS#4 were enthusiastic as soon as they saw the jars in their classroom and every single student in Ms. Zelenka’s science class
tasted their pickles. The West New York Superintendent of Schools, John Fauta, stopped in the classroom and tasted one of the hotter jars containing a few slices of ghost peppers. Mr. Valenza sent a jar home with Mr. Fauta, who would be bringing it to the district school board meeting that evening.
At the Middle School, after watching the video created by Memorial High School television station, students in Ms. Pizarro’s 8th grade class were a bit more pensive about tasting. The students were unbelievably proud of what they had made, and more impressed with how the vegetables had transformed, in color, flavor and texture. Principal, Patrick Gagliardi and Vice Principal, Brian Cooney, of the middle school were good sports and tasted pickles from a few students’ jars.
All the children took their pickles home to share with families for many weeks to come.
