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AUGUSTA — Judges for the Maine Farm to School Cook-off said Tuesday it was a tough decision to name a winner. On one side, the mother-son team from Lewiston made cheesy enchiladas paired with fruit salad, and carrot and jícama slaw. The other mother-son duo from Skowhegan offered pan-seared chicken over carrot puree with chicken […]
Judges had little else but praise for all the dishes they tasted during the annual cooking competition and was a tough decision to name a winner.
increase font size Phippsburg residents donate to erase student meal debt, but experts say school meals should be free after Although families can apply for a child to receive free or reduced-priced meals based on a family's income and size, universally free school meals would be academically and financially beneficial. Share Phippsburg community members recently banded together to pay off student meal debt at Phippsburg Elementary School, but experts say free school meals for all students would be beneficial for financial, academic and health reasons. Ann Marie Bartoo, left, and Anna Varian...
Blame the pandemic. The Lewiston school nutrition program expects to lose tens of thousands of dollars in federal reimbursement because it served fewer meals this year. “There’s an interesting trend in Maine and across the country,” said Alisa Roman, nutrition program director for Lewiston Public Schools and president of the Maine School Nutrition Association. “Schools are scrambling, ‘Oh my goodness, what are we going to do?’” she said in a recent phone interview. “It will definitely be a challenge for most.” Other districts — including those based in Poland, Farmington, ...
AUGUSTA — The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released a continuation of needed flexibilities for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) through Summer 2021. "We are so grateful for the USDA waiver extensions through this incredibly difficult time," said Walter Beesley, Maine Department of Education's Director of Child Nutrition. "The newest extension will allow Maine schools to continue to provide complimentary emergency meals in creative ways at school, remotely, and on weekends to children of all ages through the summer...