What does it really take to make food education for all more than just a great idea? In this lively, laugh‑filled episode recorded at the Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, the Farm to School Podcast crew digs into how food can be a powerful lens for learning—without becoming “one more thing” for schools. Joined by all‑star thought partners Alex DeSorbo‑Quinn of Pilot Light and Erica Curry of Row by Row, the conversation explores joy, standards, gardens, cafeterias, culture, and creativity—and why there’s no one‑size‑fits‑all recipe for teaching kids about food. Come chew on big ideas, practical examples, and a shared belief that learning through food can help students (and teachers) thrive.

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Wouldn’t that be a great title for a children’s book? In this episode, we dive deep—pun absolutely intended—into the world of bay-to-tray (or boat-to-school) with former school nutrition director–turned–seafood innovator Jenn Lovewell. From discovering a fish with no market to building an entirely new supply chain for schools, Jenn shares how solving one small puzzle piece at a time led to a movement that now stretches from Monterey Bay to the Chesapeake. Joined unexpectedly in the hallway by longtime friend and Farm to School leader Miguel Villarreal, the conversation flows through fish stories, student sustainability clubs, local pride, kitchen‑staff heritage, and the power of piloting big ideas with courage and heart. It’s a celebration of creativity, community, and the belief that better food—served with love—can change a whole school food system.

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In this episode, we sit down with longtime school nutrition leader Michael Rosenberger to pull back the curtain on what excellence in school food service really looks like—and why it matters far beyond the lunch line. From boosting attendance and graduation rates to serving true “brain food” at breakfast, Michael, Rick and Michelle reveal how school meals can be one of a district’s most powerful academic tools. Along the way, we explore the hidden pressures of audits, the art of daily readiness, the magic of telling your story before someone else does, and the surprising ways partnerships—yes, even with “frenemies”—can elevate farm to school work. Part pep talk, part playbook, this conversation is a masterclass in leadership, creativity, and why investing in people may just be the ultimate secret ingredient.

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In this episode, we head to Rochester, New York—aka “the ROC” and home of the legendary “garbage plate” (yes, recipe included in show notes) —to meet community food champion Mike Bulger. Mike takes us inside the city’s vibrant but complex food landscape, where apple orchards surround schools struggling with food access, and where parents, neighbors, and advocates are teaming up to transform wellness policies, school gardens, and local procurement. From play‑based learning to sticky‑note dreams becoming citywide food policy, this conversation explores how Rochester is sowing the seeds for healthier kids, stronger communities, and a future where every school garden thrives. Get ready for heart, humor, and a whole lot of hope—plus a surprising Rochester connection Michelle never saw coming.

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In this episode, we head to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where an ecological crisis has sparked one of the most creative—and delicious—farm to school innovations we’ve ever seen. Caroline County Public Schools and their partners at Real Good Fish are tackling the Chesapeake Bay’s invasive blue catfish by literally eating the problem. From kid‑approved fish cakes to the soon‑to‑be‑iconic “surf dog,” Beth Brewster and Holly Nuss walk us through how they turned a 100‑pound predator into a nutritious school meal, a sustainability lesson, and a community movement. Along the way we learn how a mobile farmers market bus, summer meal creativity, and a whole lot of local ingenuity are feeding families, supporting watermen, and restoring an ecosystem—one fish cake at a time.

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In this episode, we peel back the many layers of school food procurement—from the complex, regulation‑heavy world that veteran Nutrition Services Director Michael Rosenberger knows all too well, to the on‑the‑ground solutions taking root through Kevin Beltran’s work with the New Mexico Farmer’s Market Program. Together, their stories reveal both the challenges and the possibilities of bringing truly local, culturally relevant foods into school cafeterias. From navigating federal bids to celebrating Indigenous foodways like the Three Sisters, this conversation explores how communities and school systems can bridge the gap between red tape, red chiles and real nourishment.

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Join us as live from the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, as we meet Phyllicia Moore from Houston ISD—an educator, agriculturalist, and idea-generator transforming farm to school at a massive scale. From 176 school gardens to a districtwide “farmer and chef for a day” experience, Phyllicia shares how Houston is growing connections between academics, agriculture, and community. It’s authentic, inspiring, and full of big ideas taking root.

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Join us as we learn about the healing gardens of Louisiana to the vibrant school plots of Southwest Florida, where two inspiring leaders share how culture, community, and courage shape their farm to school journeys. Meet Di Plant Lady, whose roots in farm work and Caribbean heritage fuel her mission to heal soil and souls, and Kathleen, a Florida Extension powerhouse helping school gardens feed both cafeterias and curiosity. Together, their stories remind us why this movement matters: when we plant seeds with intention, we grow far more than food.

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