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Webinar: Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month

Pennsylvania Department of Education,

Division of Food and Nutrition, in

collaboration with Penn State University

(Project PA)

June 10, 2020

http://www.paharvestofthemonth.org/

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Webinar Presentations

PA Harvest of the Month - Background and Materials

Audrey Hess, MPH, RDN, LDNPublic Health Nutrition ConsultantDivision of Food and NutritionPennsylvania Department of Educationauhess@pa.gov

Elaine McDonnell, MS, RDDirector, Project PADepartment of Nutritional SciencesPenn State Universityetm101@psu.edu

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Webinar PresentationsPA Harvest of the Month - Pilot Site Experiences

E. Nichole TaylorFood Service DirectorChichester School District

Brenda Zeiler, MS, RDNFood Service DirectorWallenpaupack Area School District

Lindsay Radzvin, MS, RDDirector of Food ServiceNorth Hills School District

PA Department of Health-Sponsored Chef Consultations

Deanna Lacek PhilpottPennsylvania School Wellness Consultant

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Background and

Materials

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Overview/Background

• Funded by a 2019 USDA Farm to School grant

• Being developed through a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Penn State University (Project PA)

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Overview/Background

• Aims:

• Promote the use of seasonally available PA products in schools, child-care centers, and summer feeding sites

• Highlight a PA product each month and develop promotional materials for each item

• Provide students with local and healthy products

• Support PA farmers and producers

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Program Development

• Reviewed existing Harvest of the Month (HOM) websites/materials from other states

• Conference calls with 8 out-of-state and 5 in-state HOM programs

• Conference calls with 6 PA produce distributors and one producer, attended producer meeting

• Two Zoom meetings and one presentation/discussion to gather input from 50 school food service directors.

• HOM items

• HOM materials – type and style

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Program Development

• Developed HOM calendar

• Developed HOM logo

• Conducted pilot test in February 2020 (North Hills SD, Chichester SD, & Wallenpaupack SD)

• Website and materials development is ongoing.

www.paharvestofthemonth.org

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Materials

• Posters

• Fact Sheets

• Family Newsletters

• Serving line signage

• Table tents

• Sample Social Media Posts

• Recipes

• Image graphics

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Next Steps

• Collaboration with School Nutrition Association of PA to promote PA HOM

• Complete program development. Roll-out for 2020-2021 School Year

• No “sign-up” or registration process• Monthly e-newsletter sent to sponsor SFS contacts• Collection of “Promising Practices"• Mid-point and end of school year on-line evaluations with

chance to win $500 that can be used to implement HOM

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This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The contents of this

publication do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names,

commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government or the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the

USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from

discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any

program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape,

American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf,

hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally,

program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online

at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in

the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your

completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) E-mail: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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HARVEST OF THE MONTH

Chichester SD

Nichole Taylor - FSD

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CHICHESTER SD DEMOGRAPHICS

• Location - Delaware County near the Delaware boarder

• Schools – 4 Elementary, 1 Middle school, and 1 High school

• Enrollment – 3400

• Free and Reduced – 64%

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IMPLEMENTING HOM

• By-In – Food Service Team Members and District Administrators

• Marketing and Advertising

• Menu Planning

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SUPPORT / BUY-IN

• FS TEAM MEMBERS

• All Sites

• Breakfast and Lunch

• Age appropriate Signage

• Menu Items

• Familiar or easy to prepare

• District Administrators – Principals and Media Coordinator

• Distribute and Add HOM Parent Newsletter to website

• Provide Elementary Principals with HOM announcement

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SIGNAGE AND MARKETING

Age Appropriate

Utilized the HOM Website -Tailored the Print outs for our schools. This includes Parent newsletter, announcements and Art work

Internet –HOM Characters and additional information such as, fun facts and jokes

Utilized the gifts that team members have

Drew HOM characters on the glass

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MENU

• Breakfast –

• All Sites

• Some items already heat and thaw, other items cooked

• Lunch Items –

• Differed Per Building Level

• Recipes from HOM and Internet

• Featured HOM in A la Carte Sales / Snacks (MS/HS)

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THANK YOU

QUESTIONS???

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PA Harvest of the Month

Presented By:Brenda ZeilerWallenpaupack Area SDzeilerbr@wallenpaupack.org

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• Located in the Pocono Mountains

• in Northeastern PA• in Wayne and Pike counties• 3500 students in K-12• 53% free/reduced eligibility

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Wallenpaupack School District and Lake Wallenpaupack

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Andy WeistBus driver/farmer

drew up a contact list of local farmers

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Local Sweet Potato Farmer: Dave Nonnemacher

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Dave’s spring

sweet potatoplantings

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Arkansas Red

Carolina Ruby

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Staff In-Service

• Short 15 minute training• Create excitement and ownership• Review monthly calendar• Share download materials from

www.paharvestofthemonth.com• Research recipes• Decorate

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Staff In-Service

Staff displaying posters and serving

line signage

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HOM PostersCustomize to the school building

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HOM Posters

Sweet Potato Joke

• Q: What did the sweet potato say to the yam?

• A: I yam what I yam

www.k12.wa.us/sites/childnutrition/programs/ffvp/pubdocs/ jokes.pdf

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Fact SheetHOM Downloads

Poster

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K - Grade 2Nutrition ActivityMagnetic Board

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Sweet Potato and Craisin Casserole Recipe

Sweet Potato and

Craisin Casserole Recipe

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Sweet Potato Souffle

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Sweet Potato FriesBaked Sweet PotatoSweet Potato Souffle

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Wallenpaupack Area Middle

School February 2020 Menu

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Student Feedback:• Cheddar cheese and potato soup• Sweet potato pierogies• Chicken and cheese quesadilla

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Thank

Thank You

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PA HARVEST OF THE MONTH

NORTH HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT PILOT PROGRAMIMPLEMENTATION

Presented by: Lindsay Radzvin, RD, LDN

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�About North Hills School District:� 4650 Students

� Free/Reduced Population: 25%

� Located in northern Pittsburgh suburbs (Allegheny County)

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DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION/MARKETING OF PROGRAM -District Website

-Created new page to share PA Harvest of the month newsletter, pictures of students and other information on the programs-Menus

-Add a feature education piece each month on menus to help promote item of the month.

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�PA produce procurement and making connections with local vendors� USDA DOD program and making contacts with local vendors

� Do make contact and let them know of your interest in PA produce!

� Many suppliers have weekly newsletters:

� http://www.paragonfresh.com/weekly-leek/

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TASTE TESTING W/ DIETETIC INTERNS

-If possible, utilize student interns from local programs

-Share information about tasting and education materials in advance with faculty.

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Taste Testing with Dietetic Interns

� Surveys and comparison of different recipes

� Stickers and Giveaways

� Branding of the PA Harvest of the Month program

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�Social Media and Promotion�Utilize Food Service

Facebook or IG account to promote PA Harvest of the Month.

�Share via district social media if possible for positive PR for your program!

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Harvest of the Month

ImplementationOpportunities

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Culinary Consultation/ Training

● Free, virtual professional development with Chef Bill Scepansky

● Lessons on how to store and prepare Harvest of the Month items, knife

skills, recipe-reading, culinary math, and cooking methods

● Consultation on your district’s current Food Service operations

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Culinary Consultation/ Training● Must be scheduled with Chef Bill for July or August 2020

● Applicant requirements

○ Self-operating

○ Ready to expand the district’s Farm to School program

● Attendance requirements

○ Food Service department staff

○ Administration or Board

● Data collection and evaluation requirements

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Culinary Consultation/ Training

● Application can be found on the PA Harvest of the Month website

● Deadline: 11:59 pm, June 24th

● Three winners- one in Western PA, one in Central PA, and one in Eastern PA. Winners notified by July 1st.

● For technical assistance, contact Deanna Philpott at

dphilpott@PASchoolWellness.com

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Promotional Kits

● Designed to help schools promote Harvest of the Month to students

● Kits include items like taste test stickers, posters, banners, and buttons

● Application information

● Important dates

● Data collection and evaluation requirements

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