Behind Bradley International School in Denver lies a one-acre plot of land that Denver Public Schools (DPS) has converted into a farm. The tons of produce gathered there goes directly to students all across Denver, and the land provides a space for children to learn about how their food is grown.
The urban farm initiative, which began over a decade ago, aims to steadily increase the amount of locally grown produce delivered to school cafeterias. Lindsey Long, a registered dietitian with DPS, said the mean reason she decided to work for the school district two years ago was because of this program.
One-acre DPS farm produces ton of fresh produce for students across Denver
“Every single school in Denver Public Schools has access to this fresh produce,” Long said. “When you look at the nutrient density of a locally grown watermelon compared to something that you would get in a grocery store, it could have up to 40 times more nutrients just because it’s grown locally.”
The food is grown at Bradley International School, Schmitt Elementary School and Glenbrook Greenhouse, before being shipped to a central warehouse. Once there, the food is organized and sent to schools across Denver based on their student population. The goal is to get more nutritious food to students, but also to teach them about the growing process…