Farm to School Success: Manchester Community Schools

“The kids love it and it puts money back in our own community!”

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When Becky Landes started with Manchester schools over 17 years ago, she was just looking for a job that would allow her to be on the same schedule as her kids. Now the Food Service Director, a position that she has held for 10 years, Becky prides herself on her schools’ involvement in farm to school. 

Not only do Becky and her staff incorporate local ingredients into recipes whenever they can (signified on the menu by a small apple sticker), they also stock two 6-foot salad bars with fresh, local produce. Manchester also provides summer meals featuring an all-local chef’s salad! 

What started out small as an annual local day, the farm to school program at Manchester Schools is robust, thriving, and a point of pride for the whole community. 

Although Becky works closely with Piazza Produce and Gordon Food Service to purchase locally when possible, it’s her relationship with local farmers in her own community that she credits with the program’s success. Since the program began in 2008, Becky has been buying local produce from RiverRidge Farm in Roann, a partnership that she calls a “truly collaborative effort.” The farm also delivers. “They’ll pick it one day and deliver it the next day. So, you know, I can’t get any fresher than that.”

Moving forward, Becky wants to continue to grow the farm to school program at Manchester schools, because, as she puts it, “The kids love it and it puts money back in our own community!”