The fourth and final 2014-15 school year “Kitchen Essentials” trainings took place at Union High School with Aramark Food Service Director Cale Petermann and his team in late May. Attendees listened to Janet Celi share information about cabbage, asparagus, carrots, kale, sweet potatoes, Brussel sprouts and parsnips and then were placed into groups to tackle the recipes using these vegetables.

These trainings have been hosted for the past four years by the New Jersey Farm to School Network in collaboration with the NJ School Nutrition Association. Funding has been provided by the NJ Department of Health through the NJAHPERD (NJ Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) as fiduciary agent.

Janet Celi, New Jersey Department of Agriculture Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Coordinator, has collaborated in these trainings with NJ Farm to School Network for the past two years to help school food service professionals find ways to incorporate more produce into school meals, a requirement of the 2010 Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act.

Thanks to everyone involved in these trainings and to the districts that hosted us this year, Millville, Jersey City, Elizabeth and Union.