Farm to School: February 2026 Newsletter
Rooted in Love: Nourishing Hearts and Community
As the winter chill lingers across Northwest Indiana, we are finding warmth in the vibrant connections being built between our local producers and our school communities. This month, we lean into the theme of "Rooted in Love," celebrating not only the heart-healthy benefits of our winter harvests but also the passion of the growers who make it all possible. February is a season of quiet preparation and anticipation. While we reflect on our commitment to food equity and honor the profound agricultural contributions of Black leaders during Black History Month, we are also looking forward to the adventure ahead. This month is the perfect time to begin your "Quest for School Breakfast" as we gear up for National School Breakfast Week. By sourcing local treasures like farm-fresh eggs and frozen berries, we can continue to nourish our students’ hearts and minds, bridging the gap between our local farms and school trays.
Embark on the Quest for School Breakfast with Region Roots!
As we look ahead to National School Breakfast Week (March 2–6), Region Roots is ready to help you gear up for this year’s theme: "The Quest for School Breakfast." Every great quest needs the right fuel, and Region Roots is here to provide the local treasures your students need to power through their journey.
This is the perfect opportunity to swap out standard ingredients for local substitutes that turn a simple meal into an adventure. For your breakfast parfaits, we have a bounty of frozen strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries—perfectly preserved and ready to add a burst of color and nutrients. To provide the protein needed for any expedition, we are also offering local farm-fresh eggs and savory breakfast pork sausage.
Beyond the breakfast quest, don't forget our current Harvest of the Month star: fresh greens - lettuce, salad mix, microgreens. These crisp, local greens are available now to keep your lunch lines vibrant and healthy.
Ready to stock your kitchen with local gems for the big quest? Check out our catalog and place your orders.
If you have any questions about product availability, contact our Wholesale Partnerships Coordinator, Ashley Barry at ashley@nwifoodcouncil.org
To make National School Breakfast Week (March 2–6) a success during "The Quest for School Breakfast," you can blend adventure-themed activities with the local products Sourced through Region Roots.
Here are a few ideas to engage students and staff:
💰 The "Local Treasure" Taste Test
Since you have those frozen berries and local greens, turn them into a "discovery" event.
Berry Blast Parfaits: Set up a build-your-own parfait station where the local strawberries and blueberries are labeled as "Ruby Rubies" and "Sapphire Stones."
Green Power Smoothies: Use the harvest of the month salad greens in a "Green Monster" smoothie. If students try it, they get a "Quest Master" sticker.
⚜️ The "Knightly" Breakfast Menu
Rename your menu items for the week to fit the theme while highlighting the local sourcing:
"The Dragon Slayer": Local pork sausage and farm-fresh egg breakfast sandwiches.
"Enchanted Orchard Parfait": Layers of yogurt and frozen raspberries.
"Forest Forager Scramble": Eggs with sautéed local greens.
🥚 The "Golden Egg" Scavenger Hunt
Promoting local farm-fresh eggs, run a school-wide hunt.
Hide a "Golden Egg" (a yellow paper cutout or plastic egg) somewhere in the cafeteria each morning.
The student who finds it wins a "Breakfast Hero" prize pack or a fun farm-to-school sticker.
🗺️ Classroom "Quest Log"
Collaborate with teachers to bring the cafeteria into the classroom:
Map the Journey: Have students draw a map of how the pork sausage or eggs get from a local Northwest Indiana farm to their tray.
Meet the Heroes: Create "Trading Cards" for your local farmers. On the front, put a photo of the farmer; on the back, list their "Superpowers" (e.g., "Grows 5,000 lbs of berries," "Protects the soil").
🔊 Morning Announcements: "Quest Riddles"
Every morning, have the principal read a riddle about a local food item being served that day:
Example: "I am small, blue, and frozen in time, but I’ll make your yogurt taste sublime. What am I?"
February Harvest of the Month Recipe Highlight
This salad is colorful and fresh, with the added crunch of baked wonton strips.
Components: Dark Green, Vegetable
Source: Healthy School Recipe
Servings: 50
Crediting: ¼ cup dark leafy green vegetable, ⅛ cup other vegetable
Annoucements:
Indiana Food Day 2026 Registration is now open:
Indiana Food Day serves as an annual statewide initiative dedicated to highlighting the locally grown products that define Indiana’s agricultural pride. The program encourages schools and childcare centers to partner with local farms, bringing fresh produce into the cafeteria while educating students about the journey from farm to fork. This year, the spotlight shines on the Indiana Tomato. By registering to participate, sites gain access to a variety of promotional materials, including free stickers, posters, and tomato seeds to jumpstart school gardening efforts. In addition to physical materials, participants receive comprehensive electronic toolkits. these digital resources offer a wealth of activities, recipes, and coloring pages designed to support a day—or an entire month—of tomato-centered curriculum and culinary treats. Through this initiative, Indiana educators and food service professionals continue to cultivate a deeper connection between students and the vibrant local food system.
Webinar: 2026 Indiana Food Day
Indiana Grown for Schools invites partners and stakeholders to a dedicated webinar exploring the 2026 Item of the Year. This session will showcase the diverse and creative ways schools across the state have celebrated Indiana Food Day in previous years, offering inspiration for the upcoming season.
Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Time: 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT
Register for the webinar here!
Garden Grant
Whole Foods Market Foundation Garden Grant program provides a $3,500 monetary grant to support a new or existing edible educational garden grant located at K-12 school in the U.S or Canada.
Application Window
Feburary 1, 2026: Application Opens
March 1, 2026: Application Closes
August 1, 2026: Notification of All Apllicants
September - November 2026: Grant Package Shipping
Sign up for office hours here!
Questions or feedback about the program?
Would love to hear from you!
Reach out to Veronica Jalomo, Farm-to-School Coordinator,
veronica@nwifoodcouncil.org, (765) 412-6136
