2015 In review

As 2016 fast approaches, let's take a quick look back at all that we've accomplished this year! Here are 15 highlights from 2015:

1. Students from UMass Amherst come to Lambert-Lavoie Elementary for a "Fun With Food Fest"
2. Our cafeterias serve up farm fresh Pudding with local milk from McCrays Farm
3. Chicopee receives Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Garden Grant and builds beautiful new four-bed garden at Stefanik Elementary School 
4. 508 fourth grade students across Chicopee plant pumpkin seeds in our first annual Pumpkin Growing Contest; 7 students win brand new bicycles for growing the heaviest pumpkins at their schools 
5. Chicopee partners with UMass Dining to bring new recipes such as enchiladas and chicken stir fry with local veggies to high school cafeterias
6. The Breakfast in the Classroom Program expands to 4 schools and greatly reduces hunger-related visits to the nurse's office
7. Chicopee, MA becomes the first public school system to join GMRI’s Gulf of Maine Responsibly Harvested® program, serving local seafood in its cafeterias
8. Chicopee welcomes their first FoodCorps Service Member, Greta Shwachman
9. New signage is created to advertise farm fresh items in our cafeterias
10. The Uncle Ben's Food Truck stops at Chicopee Comp and cooks up pineapple fried rice with local peppers and onions
11. Our FoodCorps Service Member begins a Harvest of the Month taste program at four schools--Chicopee Comp, Lambert-Lavoie, Stefanik, and Litwin
12. ChicopeeFRESH collaborates with high schoolers Rachelle and Zach on Project Food Awareness; Check out Zach & Rachelle's first episode here!
13. Chicopee tests out new farm fresh items from farmer Joe Czajkowski--local maple syrup, sweet potato fries, vegetable noodles, etc.
14. The Stefanik garden gets new life with the creation of an after school garden club to start this spring; Watch this video from 12:55 to hear from Stefanik principal as well as the garden club instructors, Greta and Jo
15. Chicopee begins using the NutriSlice online menu platform to display its monthly menus

As you can see, we've come a long way in the past year! We're very excited to see what the future holds and to continue to make Chicopee a healthier and more sustainable place!