District holds special training event at Lisha Kill on June 10 as part of fresh food initiative

South Colonie is taking the first step in launching a new farm-to-school initiative aimed at providing students with fresh, locally sourced meal options and promoting healthy eating habits districtwide. In partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension and Brigaid, the district’s food service team will participate in a special training session on Tuesday, June 10, at Lisha Kill Middle School.

Led by culinary experts, the training will focus on preparing meals using fresh ingredients and regional farm produce. These are skills that food service staff will begin incorporating into student menus in the upcoming school year. Chefs from Brigaid, along with Katie Sheehan-Lopez from Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY and staff from the NYSED Office of Child Nutrition, will work alongside South Colonie’s team throughout the day. 

As part of the event, students at Lisha Kill will enjoy a special lunch featuring:

• Pizza from local favorite Uncle Rico’s
• A kale Caesar salad with homemade dressing, made with kale and romaine from Capital Roots
• Roasted fresh broccoli
• House-made kale chips, prepared using any leftover produce

“This is an exciting time for our program,” said Food Services Director Annette Sukup. “We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, and I want to give a special shout-out to our Assistant Director Madelyn Weekes. Her fresh ideas have helped make opportunities like this possible. We have a lot of plans in store for the upcoming school year, and this is just the beginning.”

The June 10 event marks an important milestone in South Colonie’s broader effort to elevate school meals and foster student wellness. In addition to launching the farm-to-school initiative, the district introduced Halal meals this year to provide inclusive options for students with dietary and cultural preferences.

“By investing in staff development and prioritizing fresh, nutritious food options, South Colonie aims to support student wellness while also strengthening its ties to the local agricultural community,” Sukup added.

More updates will be shared as the program continues to grow across all South Colonie schools.