Farm to School: January 2026 Newsletter
A Fresh Start for the New Year!
Welcome to 2026! As we step into January, the Farm to School program is kicking off the year with a renewed commitment to bringing the bounty of our local food system into the cafeteria. While the fields may be resting under a blanket of frost, our partnership with local producers remains as vibrant as ever. This winter season proves that local eating doesn’t stop when the temperature drops. From the crunch of stored apples to the earthy sweetness of hearty root vegetables and fresh greenhouse greens, there is still so much to celebrate. We owe a huge thank you to the dedicated farmers and school food service heroes who work tirelessly to ensure our students stay connected to the land all year long. Let’s make 2026 a year of nourishing connections and community collaboration!
A Fresh Start for the New Year!
As we welcome the new year, we’re excited to keep our Farm to School program going strong - even in the heart of winter! While the cold weather may slow things down in the fields, our local farms still have plenty of delicious food available to share.
This month, you’ll find crisp apples, hearty root vegetables, fresh greens, and cozy winter squash, along with local staples like cheese, bread, and farm-fresh eggs! Winter Squash is also featured as January’s Harvest of the Month produce item, and we’re happy to share that Spaghetti Squash and Acorn Squash are available to support menus and activities tied to the program.
We’re grateful to start another year partnering with our incredible farmers and school food service teams who make serving local food possible, no matter the season. Here’s to a new year full of connection, collaboration, and great local food!
If you have any questions about product availability, contact our Wholesale Partnerships Coordinator, Ashley Barry at ashley@nwifoodcouncil.org
This Month’s Harvest of the Month Recipe Highlight
Looking for a fun, healthy alternative to regular pasta? Meet spaghetti squash! This unique winter vegetable (which is actually a fruit!) naturally forms noodle-like strands when cooked.
Components: Vegetable
Source: The Lunch Box
Servings: 100
Crediting: ½ cup Vegetable, Other.
December Highlights
National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
In December, some of the NWI Food Council team traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. It was an incredible opportunity to share our region's success stories on a national stage while bringing home fresh ideas to grow our local food system.
Presenting Our Work
Our staff led a featured session on Partnerships and Collaborations, focusing on the vital link between Farm to School initiatives and Food is Medicine programs. We guided attendees through a hands-on action planning activity, helping food system leaders from across the country map out how to use local produce to improve community health outcomes. The networking was invaluable, allowing us to connect with peers nationwide who are tackling similar challenges in the food system.
Learning in the Field
Our Farm to School Coordinator took a deep dive into Albuquerque’s local food scene through a downtown "Inspiration Tour," visiting three unique sites:
Three Sisters Kitchen: A community food space that blends a café, culinary training, and food business incubator to strengthen the local food economy.
Downtown Housing Complex: A model for urban agriculture featuring a rooftop garden that provides fresh, hyper-local vegetables directly to the residents living below.
Christina Kent Early Childhood Center: As the area’s oldest childcare center (established in 1919!), this historic non-profit offered a beautiful look at early food education. We observed children as young as one to four years old eating fresh Pozole family-style, made with ingredients sourced from local farms.
Seeing these toddlers enjoy traditional, farm-fresh meals reinforced our goal: it is never too early to foster a connection between children and the land.
Geminus Head Start Nutrition Fair
We wrapped up 2025 on a high note! In December, Region Roots/NWIFC was honored to participate in the Geminus Head Start Nutrition Fair, an event dedicated to empowering families with the resources they need to lead healthy lives. It was a joy to connect with families & staff and provide them with the building blocks for a nutritious winter meal.
Thanks to a dedicated purchase by Geminus, families went home with bags of fresh local carrots, apples, and potatoes. To help turn those ingredients into a cozy dinner, we shared a simple, delicious recipe for Roasted Carrots and Potatoes, highlighting how easy it is to prepare seasonal staples. We want to extend a huge thank you to Geminus for the invitation and for their commitment to our regional food system. By choosing to purchase local vegetables for their families, they are directly supporting our neighborhood farmers and ensuring our children have access to the highest quality produce. We are already looking forward to future nutrition fairs where we can continue to showcase even more incredible products from our region’s farmers!
Try Local Grains with "Grains to Trays in Action"
We are thrilled to announce a new pilot program bringing the wholesome goodness of the Midwest prairies directly to our school cafeterias! Region Roots is partnering with Janie’s Mill and the Artisan Grain Collaborative (AGC) to launch the Grains to Trays in Action pilot.
Starting in January 2026, we will begin distributing specialized grain sample boxes to interested school districts across Northwest Indiana. This initiative is designed to make it easy and delicious for schools to incorporate local, high-quality grains into their daily menus.
What’s Inside the Box?
Each sample box is curated to provide both the ingredients and the inspiration needed to succeed:
Local & Organic Grains: Stone-milled flours and grains grown right here in the Midwest by Janie’s Mill.
K-12 Adapted Recipes: Scaled recipes specifically tested for school kitchens to ensure easy preparation and student approval.
Educational Resources: Copies of AGC’s “Meet Your Midwest Grains” zines—a fun, engaging way for students to learn about the history and heritage of the food on their trays.
This pilot is a major step in expanding our local offerings beyond the produce aisle and onto the bakery rack. We can’t wait to see the creative ways our school chefs use these nutritious, stone-milled ingredients!
Please see below for more information!
Coming soon! Try local grains on your menu with the Grains to Trays in Action pilot
Region Roots, Janie's Mill, and the Artisan Grain Collaborative are partnering to distribute grain sample boxes to interested school districts in northwest Indiana.
Each box is filled with
locally-grown and organic, stone-milled grains from Janie's Mill,
recipes adapted for K-12 kitchens, and
AGC's "Meet Your Midwest Grains" zines.
Boxes will be delivered starting in January 2026. Stay tuned for more info about how to request a box in the new year!
Questions about the Grains to Trays in Action pilot project?
Contact Jenileigh Harris, AGC Operations Director, at info@graincollaborative.com
This project is funded using U.S. Department of Agriculture grant funds. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Important Annoucement: Indiana Food Day 2026
Get ready to paint the cafeteria red! We are thrilled to announce that the 14th Annual Indiana Food Day product for 2026 is...
🍅 TOMATOES 🍅
Whether they are sliced on a sandwich, tossed in a salad, or simmered into a signature sauce, tomatoes are a quintessential Indiana staple. This year, Indiana will be celebrating the incredible variety of tomatoes grown by our local farmers—from juicy heirlooms to sweet cherry tomatoes.
What to Expect:
Indiana Food Day is a statewide celebration highlighting the importance of local food and healthy eating. By choosing tomatoes, we are celebrating one of our state's most versatile crops.
Stay tuned for more information from Indiana Grown for Schools and the Indiana Department of Education!
Other Grant Opportunities for Schools
Project Green Schools
2026 Outdoor Classroom Challenge
Project Green Schools is challenging schools across the country to develop and implement a meaningful outdoor classroom and learning space for a chance to win a Grand Prize of $10,000 to further enhance an existing space or build a new space. Open to U.S.-based schools Pre-K – 12. Apply by January 23, 2026.
National Head Start Academy, KidsGardening and Scotts Miracle Gro (only for NHSA Head Starts)
2026 NHSA: GroMoreGood Garden Grant
National Head Start Association will award grants between $2k-5k. Grants will supplement needs of existing garden projects, help launch new garden projects, or supplement/launch outdoor green space projects. Apply by January 30, 2026.
📢 Important: Grant Application Deadline Approaching!
🤝 We Are Here to Help
Don’t navigate the process alone! Indiana State Leads are available to answer your questions, guide you through the application, and connect you with the partners and resources needed to bring your innovative ideas to life.
Indiana leads:
Veronica Jalomo, Farm to School Coordinator, veronica@nwifoodcouncil.org
Dr. Virginia Pleasant, NWI Food Council, virginia@nwifoodcouncil.org
To sign up for office hours, please use the link below:
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
