Food Service Directors

Our Food Services Directors are the heart of the Farm to School Program. Let's get to know their food philosophy and why they want to bring Farm to School to their schools.

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Stephanie Lawrence, Food Service Director at Seneca Falls

Stephanie answered a few questions about her experience with F2S this year.  

CCE: What was your greatest achievement this year with F2S? 

Stephanie:  Along with Bob McKeveny, we got the BOE to raise the amount of money I need to purchase “ local goods” without having to go out to three different sources for quotes. This made it easier to buy products from local sources rather than to purchases items from outside vendors that were cheaper.

CCE: What is your favorite local vegetable to eat?

Stephanie: Tomatoes, apples, squash(s), broccoli and cucumbers. I can get them three doors down from my house at a local farmer’s stand that purchases from local farmers.

CCE: If you had cart blanch purchasing power, How would you use it towards the F2S program?

Stephanie:  If you mean “unlimited” money. I would buy all local produce and meat (USDA approved vendors). I can pretty much already purchase what I want. Unfortunately, money is the “guide” to what I purchase. I have a very limited budget.

CCE:  What is your food philosophy regarding F2S?

Stephanie:  If the farmer can provide me with a nice product for the best/right price I’m all in. I am in total agreement that to buy local is BEST Practice. Unfortunately, they can’t compete with the bigger farms who are not local and can charge me less. In our BID process we do ask the vendor to tell us the names of farms that they are purchasing from. If the vendor can show that they are making an effort to purchase local they will get preferential points toward the award decision.

CCE:  What other interesting comments or facts have you learned about F2S would you like to share? 

Stephanie:  There are local farmers out there who want to sell and we are here to buy. The problem is neither of us know how to connect without a lot of work and time. Farmers are not aware of the Bid process that we have to do to stay in compliance. They are not connected to the process and miss out on maybe taking a chance to bid. The smaller farmers cannot compete and charge almost double. If the local farmers knew what products we need/use maybe they could concentrate on growing those items instead of growing a larger variety of plants . 

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Brian Corey, Food Service Director of Waterloo Schools

CCE: What was your greatest achievement this year with F2S?

Brian: Increasing the availability and purchase of fresh, minimally processed foods for students. I also think the taste testings’ we have done have a great impact on students. Some students do not have access to certain items. This is a great way to show them what’s out there locally.

CCE: What is your favorite local vegetable to eat?

Brian: I love corn so, I would say that’s one of my favorites. It’s a very versatile product that can be prepared numerous ways. Smothered in butter is always a good thing. In moderation of course. 

CCE:  If you had cart blanch purchasing power, How would you use it towards the F2S program?

Brian: It would give us flexibility to order from different vendors. I know there are a growing number of food hubs out there, and they are a great source to get locally grown items co-packed.. These items do cost more, but it really gives you a more consistent offering of farm to school products year round. I think the bigger goal is to offer these items not just seasonally, but all school year.

CCE: What is your food philosophy regarding F2S?

Brian:  I feel F2S is great district wide initiative, but I think getting locally grown foods and information to the younger elementary students is really the key. I think if students are exposed to more locally grown items .The students in return will show a willingness to change their eating habits.

CCE:  What other interesting comments or facts have you learned about F2S would you like to share?

Brian:  This is my second year working with Cornell Cooperative., and there are a lot of moving parts when trying to roll out a farm to school program. I think the best thing about Farm to School is the trial and error. It’s great to try new things with students not knowing if they will like or dislike them, but I also feel that is the fun part. This program takes a lot of collaboration from a lot of different groups of people to make it work.

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• Kathy Bishop, Food Service Director at South Seneca
• Doris Dunham, Food Service Director at Romulus

Last updated June 10, 2020