Farm to Summer

Summer Food Service Introduction

(text courtesy of Project Bread)

The Summer Food Service Program, known as Summer Eats in Massachusetts, is a federally-funded nutrition program that provides free meals to children ages 18 and under when school is not in session. In Massachusetts, the program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with support from the Child Nutrition Outreach Program at Project Bread. Nearly 10% of Massachusetts households experience food insecurity. Summer Eats helps to fill the gap left open during the summer months for these families. By providing free, nutritious meals throughout the summer, Summer Eats ensures that every child has access to the food they need to succeed.

The summer in Massachusetts is a great time to incorporate local foods into summer meal sites. Consider joining Mass. Farm to School’s Harvest of the Month program for the summer, to help you source & promote local foods in your summer meals, for more information contact dena@massfarmtoschool.org.

There are a number of resources below to help you add more local food to your menus this summer.

Farm to Summer Resources

Guides
Procuring Local Foods[2-page guide]
There are many different options for sourcing local foods for Summer Eats. Finding the right fit for your meal program will depend on a number of characteristics including: the size and location of the program, your kitchen and staffing capacity, menu, purchasing policies, and existing vendor relationships. Read the tips on this sheet and contact us for additional support.

How to Bring Local Foods into Summer Eats [8-page guide]
This toolkit is designed to be a resource as you get started with Farm to Summer Eats. Inside, you’ll find the tools you need to build a successful program, incorporate local foods into your menu, and plan activities that will engage kids and teens.

Recipes (based on Harvest of the Month Summer Calendar)
Strawberries
Cucumbers
Peaches

Farm to Summer Videos

(Illustrating the benefits of  farm to summer programs.)