Salmon River puts student and community health first with a fresh focus

A woman wearing a vest and visor while holding a zucchini — Bonnie Bennor, a cafeteria cook at Salmon River’s St. Regis Mohawk School, preps fresh zucchini, which will be frozen for use in school meals during the winter months.

With the new school year roughly two weeks away, Salmon River is growing its commitment to the health and wellness of its students and the rest of the school community, focusing on enhanced nutrition and physical health.

New items, new vision for cafeterias

Students will enjoy expanded offerings in each of the district’s cafeterias this school year, with Food Services working to incorporate more scratch-made food, hot breakfast selections and farm-to-school-inspired entrees.

“It is vital that our students are fed the very best food to set them up for success,” said Superintendent Dr. Stanley Harper. “Many of the foods that can accomplish this goal are grown just beyond our classrooms”

“We’re moving away from processed foods,” said School Food Service Manager Nicole Foster. “A well-balanced diet keeps our students focused, and that’s where fresh fruits and vegetables from our local farms come in.”

The Food Services team has new items planned for the school year, including a hot breakfast casserole dish and homemade muffins, using as many organic and locally grown ingredients as possible.

To ensure students actually enjoy new options like these, the district actively seeks their feedback.

“Through taste tests, we’ve been able to get a good understanding of how comfortable students and staff are with different recipes,” said Foster.

The first taste test of the year will involve homemade salsa, made squarely from local produce. The Harvest of the Month, which involves a day each month featuring local food, proved popular last year, and will continue to expand this coming year.

This focus on fresh, local food is central to the district’s farm-to-school initiative.

“Our goal is to provide as many local products from New York state as possible,” said Dr. Harper.

The district also strives to be self-sustainable, with its growing agricultural program providing an increasing number of fresh crops to the Food Services department.

From the farm to the lunch tray

A lunch tray containing nachos, salsa and carrots — The build-your-own nacho bar, a popular addition to the school lunch menu last year, is available to students on select days.

The district’s farm-to-school focus is about more than just fresh food; it’s also about community and economic health. Not only do the fresh fruits, vegetables and meat provide students with nutritious diets, but partnerships with local farms and businesses support the local economy.

The recent addition of a community garden and greenhouse located behind Salmon River Middle School allows students to grow a greater variety of fruits and vegetables to feed their classmates.

“I love to see our students engaged,” said Foster. “They get hands-on experience growing food, and we get to see the literal fruits of their labor end up on lunch trays across the district.”

This initiative wouldn’t be possible without strategic partnerships with local farms and businesses, as well as Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Healthy Heart Network. These organizations have provided grants and expertise to help the district become a farm-to-school model for others around the region and the state.

Upgraded facilities

Thanks to the voter-approved Foundations for the Future capital improvement project, the district plans to renovate the cafeteria at the middle and high school.

Updates involve constructing more accessible and appealing meal lines with serving stations similar to what you’d see in a college environment.

Other upgrades include an updated seating area with new walls, floors, and seating, as well as the purchase of additional kitchen equipment, including dedicated pizza ovens.

This spring, construction is scheduled to begin on the new middle and high school cafeteria, which is expected to be complete by winter 2026.

Promoting physical health

While nutritional health is certainly important, so is physical health.

The district’s commitment extends to the broader community with the Shamrock Memorial Fitness Trail.

Students and community members alike can take a stroll around the Salmon River Central School campus. Fitness stations spread throughout the trail provide opportunities for a balanced workout.

The district has invested heavily in recent years in its athletics facilities, providing modern spaces for student athletes to practice and compete. An on-campus fitness center is also open for community members to use.

“We care about health in this community,” said Dr. Harper. “Not only is it important for our students to be healthy, but it is crucial that we promote health and wellness for our entire community as a whole.”