Farm to School: August 2026 Newsletter
Nourishing the New School Year: Welcome Back!
Welcome back to a brand-new school year! As the summer harvest reaches its peak, we are thrilled to kick off another year filled with vibrant, fresh, locally grown food for our students. August is an incredible time for our regional food system, bringing an abundance of crisp produce, juicy fruits, and nutritious ingredients straight from local farms to cafeteria trays and classroom spaces. This season, we are continuing our work to strengthen connections between local growers, food service teams, and educators. Together, we are making it easier than ever to nourish our young learners with high-quality regional products while supporting the dedicated agricultural partners in our community. Whether you are expanding school garden programs, exploring scratch-cooking recipes, or featuring new local menu items, we are here to support your journey every step of the way. Thank you for your dedication to building healthier, more connected school communities. Here’s to a bountiful, nourishing school year ahead!
August Procurement Feature: Bring the Summer Bounty to Your Trays!
As we kick off the new school year, Region Roots is bustling with the season’s finest arrivals! Sourcing local for your August menus is one of the easiest ways to welcome students back with bright, delicious meals.This month, we are proud to feature Sweet Corn as our official Harvest of the Month! Crisp, golden, and bursting with late-summer sweetness, local corn is a versatile favorite for everything from simple cob-on-the-tray presentations to fresh corn salsas and roasted side dishes.
Now available:
We have tomatoes for your Indiana Day Celebration, Sweet corn to celebrate Harvest the Month. Watermelon, peaches, & Summer Squash are also available for your school menus.
👀 Coming Soon to the Marketplace
Keep an eye on the ordering platform—slicing tomatoes and peppers will be making their grand debut very soon!
Ready to Place Your Orders?
Whether you are finalizing your first-week cycle menus or looking for simple local highlights to jumpstart back-to-school purchasing, Region Roots makes sourcing directly from our trusted regional farmers effortless. Log in to the ordering platform today to see current inventory and reserve your farm-fresh products!Thank you for your continued commitment to serving fresh, local foods to our students! If you have any questions about product availability, contact our Wholesale Partnerships Coordinator, Ashley Barry at ashley@nwifoodcouncil.org
August Harvest of the Month Recipe: Mexican Street Corn
Cotija cheese, cilantro and spices come together for great flavor, along with tangy Greek yogurt on a tender corn cob. A student favorite!
Components: Starchy, Vegetable
Source: Healthy School Recipes (Alhambre Elementary School District)
Servings: 100
Crediting: A 5 ¼-inch cobette credits as a ½ cup vegetable. A 3 inch cobette credits as a ¼ cup vegetable
🌽 Fun Idea: The Great Student "Shuck-A-Thon"!
Why let the kitchen staff have all the fun? Turn local sweet corn prep into a hands-on learning adventure by inviting students to help shuck the ears. It is an amazing way to connect kids directly to their food, practice fine motor skills, and spark classroom conversations about how regional farms feed our community. Plus, many hands make light work for your kitchen crew!
Harvest of the Month 2026-2027
Each month features an Indiana‑grown product for schools to highlight through taste tests, classroom lessons, cafeteria promotions, and garden activities. For those who prefer to use different products, the Indiana Grown for Schools HOM database includes a wide variety of additional resources you can access any time, such as standardized recipes, ECE–12th grade lesson plans, media items, and more.
For those who register, Indiana Grown for Schools will provide printed posters (12 total, one for each month), available while supplies last. All additional materials will be available digitally.
August: Sweet Corn
September: Tomatoes
October: Apples
November: Carrots
December: Potatoes
January: Winter Squash
February: Root Vegetables
March: Leafy Greens
April: Pork
May: Honey & Maple Syrup
Announcements
FarmHop Farm to School Tour
Friday, September 25, 2026
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
This tour showcases how local farms and school districts are nourishing the next generation with locally grown foods and scratch-made meals.
Visit two working farms actively growing food for school meals: (DeJong Farm, Garwood Orchards)
Enjoy a thoughtfully prepared, locally sourced lunch at LaPorte High School, located in LaPorte, Indiana, where food is celebrated in both the cafeteria and the classroom (limited lunch-only tickets available)
Visit the Region Roots Local Farm & Food Hub and learn how it connects farms to institutions year-round
🍽 What’s Included
A thoughtfully prepared, locally sourced lunch
Guided tours and behind-the-scenes access
Opportunities to connect with farmers, healthcare professionals, educators, and community leaders
A compelling look at how local food is advancing community health, education, and regional resilience
📌 Important Details
Lunch will be served at 12:30 PM
Lunch-only guests should plan to arrive by 12:30 PM (location details provided in advance)
Tour begins and ends at Grounded Earth Farm in Crown Point. Please plan to arrive at Grounded Earth Farm, located at 11105 Fathke Road in Crown Point, Indiana, between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m. From there, you’ll board a bus that will take you to the participating farms and our lunch location. We’ll return to Grounded Earth Farm by 3:30 p.m. to conclude the day.
Note: Because part of this event is outdoors, some areas may present challenges for those using mobility aids. There will be walking on properties that contain natural, uneven or possibly irregular terrain. Visitors assume all risks associated with walking on unpaved surfaces.
🎟 Ticket Policy
Tickets are non-refundable but may be transferred to another attendee. If unused, tickets will be considered a donation supporting the ongoing work of the Northwest Indiana Food Council.t
Indiana Apple Crunch
Be part of a statewide celebration this fall as thousands of Hoosiers take a big, loud, collective CRUNCH into local apples. Registered participants receive Apple Crunch toolkits, activity ideas, and resources to promote local apples and Indiana farmers. Register today.
Indiana Food Day
Celebrate local food, Indiana agriculture, and healthy eating by joining Indiana Food Day! Registrants receive promotional materials, planning guides, and resources to make the event fun and impactful. Register today.
High School Local Food Recipe Contest
Invite your students to get creative with Indiana-grown ingredients! This is a great opportunity for culinary programs, student clubs, and aspiring chefs to develop their skills and celebrate local agriculture. Winning recipes may be featured in promotional materials or school menus. Register today.
Farm to School Action Planning Workshop Northern Region
We’re excited to announce the North Region Farm to School Action Planning Workshop: Wednesday, September 16th, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at Marian University in Plymouth, IN.
This full-day workshop is designed to drive collaborative planning, networking, and strategy-building to develop a regional Farm to School action plan. Built for educators, food service directors, local producers, and community advocates, it provides the dedicated space needed to build stronger school food pathways together. Registration details are coming soon — stay tuned!
Questions or feedback about the program? We would love to hear from you! Reach out to Veronica Jalomo, Farm-to-School Coordinator: veronica@nwifoodcouncil.org, (765) 412-6136
