Hawaiʻi Department of Education is rolling out a new process that encourages small farm micropurchases of locally grown produce for school meals throughout the state in an effort to advance farm-to-school initiatives.
Students at Kahaluʻu Elementary School on Oʻahu recently enjoyed locally grown microgreens on their lunch plates. They were harvested just across the street from the elementary school campus at Kupu Place. The greens were picked Sunday, delivered Tuesday and served to students Wednesday because of the farm's close proximity.
Mustard greens including kale, mizuna, arugula and amaranth were featured in the microgreen mix, served alongside a classic student-favorite cheeseburger entrée. The greens will also appear later this month as a garnish for the school's teri burger lunch.
While some Kahaluʻu students were already familiar with microgreens, they were a first for many other students. "When I got my plate and I got the microgreens, I thought, 'Wait, we actually got microgreens?'" said sixth-grader Chloe Preston in a release about the new menu item. "Personally, I really like microgreens. I think it's a good vegetable."
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