Farm to School: September 2026 Newsletter
Nourishing the New School Year: Welcome Back!
Rooted in Resilience: Weathering the Storm & Growing Stronger Together
Our hearts are with every student, educator, farmer, and family across Northwest Indiana following the devastating August 11 storms. As the new school year began under challenging circumstances, widespread power outages and damaged fields immediately disrupted our food system. Yet our community rose to meet the moment. School food service teams responded with incredible dedication—thinking outside the box by bringing in refrigerated trucks to prevent food from spoiling, ensuring that students were fed, and keeping schools a safe haven through the chaos. Simultaneously, when produce deliveries were disrupted, partners like Nurse-Family Partnership and Fuzzyline Brewing stepped in to redirect fresh food and prepared meals to families in need. This is the true power of a connected food system: when one part takes a hit, the rest of us step up. Recovery will take time, but neighborly care carries us forward. Welcome back to school—we are proud to rebuild and nourish our community together.
September Procurement Spotlight: Bring Local Bounty to Your Trays
As fields recover and the fall harvest gets underway, Region Roots Local Food Hub is ready to help school nutrition teams bring fresh, vibrant flavors straight to cafeteria trays. Sourcing through Region Roots connects your school directly with dedicated growers across Northwest Indiana—simplifying ordering and delivery with a single local invoice.
Featured for September: Tomatoes for Your Indiana Day Celebrations!
We have fresh, local slicing and cherry tomatoes ready to order for your Indiana Day Celebration and September Harvest of the Month menus! Highlight Hoosier agriculture on your salad bars, burger toppings, and tasting tables.
Also in season & available for schools:
Orchard Fruit: Crisp eating apples, pears, and local cider for fall events.
Peak Produce: Sweet corn, bell peppers, cucumbers, and summer squash.
Greens & Roots: Hearty greens, crisp salad greens, carrots, and early fall squash.
Ready to Place Your Orders?
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.
September Harvest of the Month Recipe: Pasta Fagioli
This Italian dish (pronounced "fah-zjo-lee") is a huge hit with students. It comes together in just a few simple steps with your choice of beans, fresh veggies, and a flavorful tomato sauce.
Components: Grains, Meat/Meat Alternate, Other, Vegetable
Source: Healthy School Recipes (Coalition for Healthy School Food)
Servings: 88
Crediting: One 1 2/3 cup serving provides 2 oz eq M/MA, 1 oz eq Grain, 3/4 cup Other Vegetable
🍅 Red, Ripe & Hoosier Grown: Tomato Ideas for Indiana Food Day
Sweet Corn & Cherry Tomato Confetti Salad: Combine two Indiana late-summer favorites—sweet corn kernels and halved cherry tomatoes—with a light lime vinaigrette for a sweet, crunchy vegetable component.
Fresh Scratch-Made Marinara or Pizza Sauce: Roast and blend local tomatoes into a signature dipping sauce for breadsticks, whole-grain calzones, or school pizza.
Events
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.
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 brings people together to plan, network, and build strategies for 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. Register today.
Announcements
National Policy News: USDA Unveils "Harvest to Hallways" Initiative
Federal agencies are rolling out major new support for school nutrition programs and farm-to-school pipelines. On August 24, the USDA and HHS announced Harvest to Hallways, a joint initiative aimed at bringing more whole, nutrient-dense, locally grown foods to school cafeterias while upgrading kitchen infrastructure nationwide.
Key Opportunities for School Districts:
Cafeteria Infrastructure Grants: A combined $70 million federal commitment to help qualifying schools purchase essential kitchen equipment, such as commercial cold storage and stoves, and expand scratch-cooking capabilities.
Expanded Farm to School Funding: An additional $25 million dedicated to the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant program for FY 2026 to help schools scale local purchasing.
Local Procurement Support: Targeted webinars and technical assistance to help districts utilize the “Local Option” reimbursement pathway for purchasing regional agricultural products.
Nutrition Research: $30 million in HHS research funding focused on cost-effective methods for elevating the nutritional quality of school meals.
Learn more about upcoming grant windows and procurement guidance at USDA Harvest to Hallways.
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
