The Farm to School Podcast

What does it really take to make food education for all more than just a great idea? In this lively, laugh‑filled episode recorded at the Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, the Farm to School Podcast crew digs into how food can be a powerful lens for learning—without becoming “one more thing” for schools. Joined by all‑star thought partners Alex DeSorbo‑Quinn of Pilot Light and Erica Curry of Row by Row, the conversation explores joy, standards, gardens, cafeterias, culture, and creativity—and why there’s no one‑size‑fits‑all recipe for teaching kids about food. Come chew on big ideas, practical examples, and a shared belief that learning through food can help students (and teachers) thrive.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Wouldn’t that be a great title for a children’s book?  In this episode, we dive deep—pun absolutely intended—into the world of bay-to-tray (or boat-to-school) with former school nutrition director–turned–seafood innovator Jenn Lovewell. From discovering a fish with no market to building an entirely new supply chain for schools, Jenn shares how solving one small puzzle piece at a time led to a movement that now stretches from Monterey Bay to the Chesapeake. Joined unexpectedly in the hallway by longtime friend and Farm to School leader Miguel Villarreal, the conversation flows through fish stories, student sustainability clubs, local pride, kitchen‑staff heritage, and the power of piloting big ideas with courage and heart. It’s a celebration of creativity, community, and the belief that better food—served with love—can change a whole school food system. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

In this episode, we sit down with longtime school nutrition leader Michael Rosenberger to pull back the curtain on what excellence in school food service really looks like—and why it matters far beyond the lunch line. From boosting attendance and graduation rates to serving true “brain food” at breakfast, Michael, Rick and Michelle reveal how school meals can be one of a district’s most powerful academic tools. Along the way, we explore the hidden pressures of audits, the art of daily readiness, the magic of telling your story before someone else does, and the surprising ways partnerships—yes, even with “frenemies”—can elevate farm to school work. Part pep talk, part playbook, this conversation is a masterclass in leadership, creativity, and why investing in people may just be the ultimate secret ingredient.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

In this episode, we head to Rochester, New York—aka “the ROC” and home of the legendary “garbage plate” (yes, recipe included in show notes) —to meet community food champion Mike Bulger. Mike takes us inside the city’s vibrant but complex food landscape, where apple orchards surround schools struggling with food access, and where parents, neighbors, and advocates are teaming up to transform wellness policies, school gardens, and local procurement. From play‑based learning to sticky‑note dreams becoming citywide food policy, this conversation explores how Rochester is sowing the seeds for healthier kids, stronger communities, and a future where every school garden thrives. Get ready for heart, humor, and a whole lot of hope—plus a surprising Rochester connection Michelle never saw coming.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

In this episode, we head to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where an ecological crisis has sparked one of the most creative—and delicious—farm to school innovations we’ve ever seen. Caroline County Public Schools and their partners at Real Good Fish are tackling the Chesapeake Bay’s invasive blue catfish by literally eating the problem. From kid‑approved fish cakes to the soon‑to‑be‑iconic “surf dog,” Beth Brewster and Holly Nuss walk us through how they turned a 100‑pound predator into a nutritious school meal, a sustainability lesson, and a community movement. Along the way we learn how a mobile farmers market bus, summer meal creativity, and a whole lot of local ingenuity are feeding families, supporting watermen, and restoring an ecosystem—one fish cake at a time.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

In this episode, we peel back the many layers of school food procurement—from the complex, regulation‑heavy world that veteran Nutrition Services Director Michael Rosenberger knows all too well, to the on‑the‑ground solutions taking root through Kevin Beltran’s work with the New Mexico Farmer’s Market Program. Together, their stories reveal both the challenges and the possibilities of bringing truly local, culturally relevant foods into school cafeterias. From navigating federal bids to celebrating Indigenous foodways like the Three Sisters, this conversation explores how communities and school systems can bridge the gap between red tape, red chiles and real nourishment.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Join us as live from the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, as we meet Phyllicia Moore from Houston ISD—an educator, agriculturalist, and idea-generator transforming farm to school at a massive scale. From 176 school gardens to a districtwide “farmer and chef for a day” experience, Phyllicia shares how Houston is growing connections between academics, agriculture, and community. It’s authentic, inspiring, and full of big ideas taking root.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Join us as we learn about the healing gardens of Louisiana to the vibrant school plots of Southwest Florida, where two inspiring leaders share how culture, community, and courage shape their farm to school journeys. Meet Di Plant Lady, whose roots in farm work and Caribbean heritage fuel her mission to heal soil and souls, and Kathleen, a Florida Extension powerhouse helping school gardens feed both cafeterias and curiosity. Together, their stories remind us why this movement matters: when we plant seeds with intention, we grow far more than food.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

In this special episode recorded at the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, Michelle and Guest Host Christy Sherding sat down with the “Old Guard” of the Farm to School movement — Leaders whose vision and persistence helped shape school food into what it is today. From Detroit to Minneapolis and beyond, these leaders have spent decades planting seeds of change, building gardens in unexpected places, and transforming cafeterias into classrooms of nourishment and equity. Their stories remind us that innovation often begins with courage, collaboration, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. Join us as we honor their legacy, celebrate their impact, and explore how their wisdom continues to guide the next generation of farm to school champions.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

In this episode, we hang out with Greg Christian to explore how scratch cooking, kitchen “swarming,” and a whole lot of heart can transform cafeterias from stressed-out heat-and-serve hubs into joyful, efficient, good-food machines. Greg shares stories from the front lines of school kitchen makeovers, why cutting broccoli together can fix more than just lunch, and how real leadership (the kind that listens, laughs, and lets people shine) is the secret ingredient to lasting change. Pull up a tray! This one’s equal parts wisdom, wonder, and wildly good food.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Today we’ve got a special treat sprouting in the studio- the brilliant, dirt-under-their-fingernails crew from the School Garden Podcast!That’s right! It’s a full-on garden geek crossover episode. More stories, more laughter, more accidental loofah explosions… and probably at least one debate about which state grows the sassiest school gardeners. Grab your trowel, hydrate, and settle in, this episode is about to bloom in every direction.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

What happens when youth look at the school garden and only see cheap pink plastic shovels, flimsy tools, and vegetable characters that don’t represent their world? In this episode of the Farm to School Podcast, Rick and Michelle dig into how stereotypes have shaped kids’ experiences in the school garden and how a new generation of youth-driven design is flipping the script. From rethinking tools on how Michelle dedicated a good ten years of her life to create the “Rootopia” characters, over 44 fruits and veggies that reflect real emotions, cultural awareness, and botanical accuracy, we explore how gardens can become places of belonging, creativity, and social-emotional growth.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Welcome to a world where tiny hands plant big ideas. Today, we’re digging into the magic of Farm to Early Care and Education — a movement planting real food, real connections, and lifelong curiosity in our youngest learners. From toddlers discovering where carrots come from, to preschoolers who can pronounce “photosynthesis” with sticky fingers and big wonder, we’re exploring how gardens, farmers, and early educators are growing habits — and hopes — that last far beyond snack time. Because when we plant seeds in little soil and little hearts, the harvest just might change the world.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

From museum magic to school lunch makeovers, this episode dishes up a coast-to-coast journey with The Henry Ford’s Spence Medford and Christy Sherding. Discover how a historic innovation hub is shaking up school meals, spotlighting edible education, and launching a national movement—complete with chefs, students, and a documentary premiere. Hungry for change? Grab your lunch tray and tune in! We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Today we’re taking you behind the scenes of something that doesn’t always sound exciting, but shapes everything we do—strategic planning. Stick with us, because this isn’t your typical dry ‘vision statement’ talk. This is the story of how one state brought together farmers, schools, nonprofits, and agencies to chart a bold 10-year vision for Farm to School. We’ll share how hundreds of voices shaped the process, why it matters far beyond Oregon, and how a plan on paper can actually spark a movement. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

What do karaoke, universal school meals, and a stripe of gray hair have in common? Sunny Baker. In this episode, we sit down with the National Farm to School Network’s very own Senior Director of Programs and Policy to talk about the wins, woes, and what’s next for school food. From pandemic lessons to policy dreams, Sunny brings the fire, fun—and the future of farm to school.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

What happens when school teams, cafeteria leaders, teachers, and students gather in a botanical garden to grow more than just vegetables? Welcome to the Oregon Farm to School Institute — part summer retreat, part action-planning bootcamp, and all heart. In this episode, we dig into how this unique two year-long program is sprouting real change across the state. You’ll hear from the program’s director, a passionate educator, a thoughtful student leader, and more — all working to root farm to school deeper into culture, curriculum, and community. From hydroponic lettuce to high school leadership, this is farm to school like you’ve never heard it.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

When Alice Waters speaks about food, she’s not just talking about what’s on the plate—she’s talking about culture, community, and the future of our children. Best known as the founder of the legendary Chez Panisse restaurant and one of the people that started the farm-to-table movement, Waters has spent decades proving that how we grow, prepare, and share food can transform lives. Now, she’s taking that philosophy beyond the kitchen and into the classroom with a bold vision: School-Supported Agriculture. It’s more than a meal program—it’s a movement to connect students directly with local farms, nourish bodies and minds, and plant the seeds of ecological literacy in every school garden. MMWe would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

At the Chemawa Indian School, food is more than nourishment—it's culture, tradition, and connection. Meet the Staff reviving First Foods through student-driven menus, community cooking, and a deep respect for Indigenous knowledge.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Meet Lucy DeLeon, the tamale maker turning family tradition into a statewide school lunch success. From migrant roots to feeding thousands of students in her state, Lucy shares how culture, hustle, and heart are transforming school meals—one tamale at a time. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Meet Krishna Bhattarai of Happy Curry Foods, a former finance exec turned food entrepreneur bringing bold global flavors like curries, dumplings, and samosas to Oregon school cafeterias—while bridging cultures, cutting prep time, and winning over kids' taste buds one meal at a timeWe would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

From High Desert Beef, and 100 miles from town: the Alvord Beef Ranch story of Remote “Ranch to School” lunch.  Join us as we head to the remote high desert of Southeastern Oregon to meet Paul and Toni Davis of Alvord Ranch. With a herd of 2,500 cattle, no neighbors for miles, and a kitchen that feeds up to 25 ranch hands a day, the Davises share what life is really like on a working cattle ranch—and how their homegrown beef is making its way to school cafeterias. From breathtaking landscapes to farm-to-school innovation, this is a story of connection, commitment, and good food from the ground up.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

What do farm-fresh veggies, kid-run farmers markets, and a runaway pig have in common? They're all part of the magic Lynne Shore brings to her school meals! Tune in “live” from the Oregon School Nutrition Conference for a fun, feel-good journey into farm to school awesomeness — where students shop, farmers cheer, and pancakes steal the show!We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Join Rick and Michelle as they (virtually) journey across the Atlantic to chat with Jennie Devine from England’s National Farmers Union. Discover how UK schools are connecting kids with farming through innovative STEM-based lessons, live farm broadcasts, and a nationwide ambassador program—without government funding! It’s a fresh take on farm to school that’s inspiring students, empowering teachers, and putting a new face on farm to school.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Join us as we sit down with Jade Davidson, Executive Director of Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom. Jade leads a small but mighty nonprofit dedicated to helping students understand where their food comes from and how Oregon’s diverse natural resources shape our lives.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Born in Ireland, Jennie journeyed to the United States. Her passion for food and health set her on a career path that started as a hospital Clinical Dietitian, evolved into Nutrition Service Manager and Director at a school district, and currently as a state Child Nutrition Program staff. Join Rick & Michelle as they talk with Jennie Kolpak about how she literally defined what best-practice in farm to school procurement and promotions were in the early days of the movement. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Have you ever heard of a Food Forest?  It sounds something you can find in the woods outside Willy Wonka’s factory, right?  Join us as we explore the relationship with Fort Bragg, California’s school district Nutrition Services Director Pilar Gray and Director of Operations for the NOYO Food Forest, Beth Horkman.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Often as we teach kids where their food comes from, even 11th graders sometimes think broccoli grows on trees because they're not exposed to growing food.  Join us as we explore School Garden Education in the Denver, Colorado area with SustainED Farms' Matt Supronowicz and Maya McDowell. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Our last episode was coined "Student Ecoliteracy, The Author" which explored Katherine Pryor's journey of writing children's books about nature and garden subjects.  In this companion episode, we talk to Katherine's first publisher, Philip Lee of Readers to Eaters.  They specialize in publishing kids books about nutrition and school gardens!  We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Katherine Pryor first wrote a story when she was seven years old.  She's been chasing the feeling of how the story made her feel every day since then..  Fast forward to today, when she's published ten children's books, most of which are award winners.  Join Rick and Michelle as they talk to Katherine as she shares her journey of writing about kids' experiences with growing food, among other stories.Teaser: Join us next time for "Student Ecoliteracy.. The Publisher!"We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

What if you ran the Nutrition Service Department and you needed help..  someone to help to provide training, kitchen design, or "strategic solutions leadership?"  Join Rick and Michelle as they chat with Joshua Miller, the Founder and Principal Consultant with Remarkable Academic Foods, who tells his journey in his mission to help transform school meals.  We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

In our journey to explore the different methods of educating kids about their food and the environment, we bring you a new way we haven't explored yet on this program: Educating kids through music!  Join us as we talk to members of the Banana Slug String Band, a band that's celebrating their 40th Anniversary at the time of this posting and their journey through the years.This is part TWO of a two-part episode.  We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

In our journey to explore the different methods of educating kids about their food and the environment, we bring you a new way we haven't explored yet on this program: Educating kids through music!  Join us as we talk to members of the Banana Slug String Band, a band that's celebrating their 40th Anniversary at the time of this posting and their journey through the years.This is part one of a two-part episode.  Part two will be available later this month. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Join us as we talk to Julie Burton of the award-winning Farm Lab DREAMS Campus (Design, Research, Engineering, Art, Math & Science). It's an amazing story of how they were able to establish a certified organic farm that feeds into their nationally recognized farm to school program in Encinitas, CA. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Many organizations provide educational programming for school gardens across the USA.  But what about the infrastructure of building the garden, how do you start? Join us as we talk with Sam Koentopp from Big Green.  They work with partner organizations to install their raised beds in schools, and also have a goal to start one million gardens with their home gardening kits!  Join us as we explore their mission to get everyone in America growing food! We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Most people Haven't heard of the term "Farm to School."  Once the concept is explained to them, usually the next thing to explain is.. what is a school garden?  Typically, folks assume that school gardens are a relatively new thing.  Join us as we talk with Rose Hayden-Smith about the very long and interesting history of school gardens in the USA and the world. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Often times we highlight very large school districts that has a meal program that offers food that is made from scratch whenever possible.  Because those places are large districts with many resources, there might be more opportunities to get local, fresh food into the cafeteria.  But what about a very small, rural school? How can they do the same thing with limited resources?  Join us as we interview Emilia Miguel with "Food Lab," from Pacific Elementary in Davenport, CA. It's a school where the Students are the chefs, and create their own local, nutritious meals for the National School Lunch Program. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Many School Gardens are able to produce an abundance of food.  Usually they are able to bring the produce right in to the cafeteria..  But what if you have an overabundance of something?  How can you save it? Can you can it SAFELY? What are the rules and regulations?   Join us as we have a discussion with a Master Food Preserver Jared Hibbard-Swanson from Oregon State University Extension, as we discuss what to do and where to get help preserving garden produce. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Chef.  Innovator.  Leader... Cranky Parent?  There are many words to describe Bertrand Weber.  Join us as he shares his journey from an "angry parent" who was concerned about his kid's school meal to stepping up and doing something about it.. transforming the meal experience at Minneapolis Public Schools, and inspiring the country to rethink how they serve food to students. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Today our special guests are Chef Asata Reid and Erin Croom of "Small Bites Adventure Club" from Atlanta, GA. Listen to them as they share their journey and passion of how they developed a truly one-of-a-kind, innovative program to educate children about nutrition and where their food comes from.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

So you have a school garden.  You grow beautiful fruits and veggies.  Great!  Now what?  Once you've mastered your "green thumb" and want to try the one of the next steps in school gardens, many programs are having success with raising chickens (and other "critters") in the school garden.  We talk with Sam Ullery from Washington DC's Office of the State Superintendent of Education, as he was the first person to explore the legal and safe way to do this at a state agency level. Show notes and much more will be available later this week on our Oregon State University hosting site.  Get there by searching "Farm to School Podcast OSU." We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Miguel Villareal is the Interim Director of the National Farm to School Network.  From humble beginnings in a farm worker's family, his journey led him to athletics, a software salesman, and finally as a Nutrition Services Director for a large school district in California.  A moment where he was forced to administer a soft drink contract to potentially thousands of students forced him to rethink what school foodservice could be all about. Join us as we chat with Miguel on his journey to change the nutrition of students across the country. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Often school garden programs and school cafeterias operate very independent and separately from each other.  Join us for a wonderful example of a program that works in harmony: West Linn-Wilsonville School District.  Our Guests include School Garden Coordinator Helena Killstrom and Nutrition Services Manager Lindsey  Flores.We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Join us as we interview Texas A&M University's Randy Seagraves.  Randy is the Program Specialist and Curriculum Director of the International Junior Master Gardener Program.  Find out how America's youth are inspired and transformed by this wonderful program. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Join us for our second part of our interview with the co-founders Ciara Byrne and Kim MacQuarrie of "Green Our Planet," a non-profit based in Las Vegas, Nevada that uses school garden and hydroponic STEM programs that teach students about sustainability and financial literacy.  They have an amazing story of how they transformed what did as successful videographers to end up creating this nonprofit to better their part of the Southwest.. and the country! This is part two of a two-part episode. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Join Rick as he visits with the co-founders Ciara Byrne and Kim MacQuarrie of "Green Our Planet," a non-profit based in Las Vegas, Nevada that uses school garden and hydroponic STEM programs that teach students about sustainability and financial literacy.  They have an amazing story of how they transformed what did as successful videographers to end up creating this nonprofit to better their part of the Southwest.. and the country! This is part one of a two-part episode. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Join Rick as he travels "on assignment" to Summerlin, Nevada to interview two groups of elementary students who participated in the "World's Largest Student Farmer's Market," sponsored by Green Our Planet.  We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.Show notes and much more will be available later this week on our new hosting Site:  https://extension.oregonstate.edu/podcast/farm-school-podcastWe would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Join us for part two of our discussion about bees and pollinators in the school garden with Associate Professor Andony Melanthpoulos with Oregon State University. Show notes and much more will be available later this week on our new hosting Site:  https://extension.oregonstate.edu/podcast/farm-school-podcastWe would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

Join us as for a fascinating interview of one of the worlds foremost authorities on bees and pollination - Andony Melanthopoulos with Oregon State University.. and how bees fit into the world of school gardens!This is part one of a two-part series. Show notes and much more will be available later this week on our hosting site: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/podcast/farm-school-podcast  We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.

It's not every day when the United States Department of Agriculture reach out to you to ask if their "person at the top" of the school lunch program can be a guest on your show! Join Michelle and Rick as they have a conversation with Administrator Long about how Farm to School fits in the USDA's programs. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.