Fresh, Local and Made From Scratch
BISD’s Farm to School Program helps students learn about and try new foods while supporting local farmers. We develop new recipes, cook from scratch and bring local products into our school meals.
Beyond the cafeteria, students learn through school gardens, cooking lessons and connections to the local community, all while celebrating cultural food traditions. We believe farm to school empowers children and families to make informed food choices, strengthens the local economy and builds vibrant communities.
Farm to School Institute
BISD was one of nine teams accepted into the first Farm to School Institute in the Pacific Northwest, launched in summer 2024 to grow farm to school programs in Oregon and Washington.
The Institute is a year-long professional learning experience. Our team of classroom educators, administrators, nutrition services staff and community partners worked with a coach to build an action plan and put it into practice across our classrooms, cafeterias and community.
See our Institute team photo →
Farm Partnerships
Local farms are key to a healthy, sustainable food system, and we encourage our community to support them whenever possible. We’re proud to partner with these farms and food hubs for local produce, eggs and meats:
Northwest Food Hub Network
Fresh pasta made locally with Washington wheat, locally made tamales, coho salmon, Italian and andouille sausage, Lopez Island ice cream for the ice cream sandwiches sold at BHS, plus sunchokes, cabbage, leeks, fingerling potatoes, shallots and beets
A Washington State local purchasing grant has also helped us buy local bison, salmon, frozen berries, stew meat and lentils.
Scratch Cooking
Our team is always developing healthy recipes that kids enjoy, and we prepare as many meals as possible in our own kitchens. Check the monthly menu to see which daily options are cooked from scratch. Recipes we’ve been excited to serve include:
Harvest of the Month
Since the 2023–24 school year, BISD Food and Nutrition Services has featured one local fruit or vegetable each month. Local products appear on our menus all year, but the Harvest of the Month item is served in meals and snacks, used for taste tests, featured in lessons and highlighted in our community. It’s a great way to support local farmers and try new foods.
See each month’s harvest and resources below.
