Local Ingredients, Big Impact: Farm to School Culinary Training Brings Regional Partners Together
Posted on 08/25/2026
School nutrition professionals from across northeast Washington gathered Aug. 11-12 at Newtech Skill Center for a hands-on NEWESD 101 Farm to School Culinary Training focused on scratch cooking, local food purchasing and strengthening connections between schools and regional producers.
The two-day training brought together foodservice staff representing Curlew, Northport, Selkirk, Republic, Onion Creek, Colville, Inchelium, Evergreen, Chewelah, Valley and Mary Walker school districts. Participants practiced culinary techniques, exchanged ideas and explored ways to incorporate more locally grown and produced foods into school meals.
Regional products took center stage throughout the training, with ingredients from Columbia Community Creamery in Chewelah, De Leon Foods in Spokane, Casa Cano Farms in Valleyford and Ramstead Ranch, LLC in Ione.
The event also highlighted work supported through PLANTS, or Partnerships for Local Agriculture and Nutrition Transformation in Schools. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Chef Ann Foundation, the three-year initiative strengthens partnerships among school districts, producers and regional food system organizations to increase access to fresh, local and values-aligned foods in K-12 schools.
Valley School District is a key partner in the regional PLANTS project and developed one of the recipes featured during the training.
Through the project, NEWESD 101 has helped nine small processors develop 32 new products for schools and supported more than $80,000 in local product purchases to date. The work helps keep food dollars within the region while expanding opportunities for schools to serve locally produced foods.
A special lunch gathering Aug. 11 brought school nutrition professionals together with local farmers and producers for a conversation about the people, partnerships and supply chains behind school meals.
Local farmers, food producers and schools interested in Farm to School partnerships are encouraged to connect with NEWESD 101. Opportunities may include supplying local products, expanding school purchasing relationships or strengthening Farm to School programming across northeast Washington.
Learn more and explore partnership opportunities