Local Foods, Healthy Schools: Schoharie & Otsego Counties

12/18/2025

Students of Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School had a wonderful surprise for today's tasting, chocolate potato cake! Nearly everyone like it, and I can't blame them!

Since potatoes are 80% water, they helped make the cake moist and delicious and they even came from Limesprings Farm! This recipe used raw shredded potato rather than mashed potato like some other recipes call for. Scroll for pictures of the recipe or you can use find it through this link https://vintagekitchennotes.com/chocolate-potato-cake/ It also includes a peanut butter chocolate frosting to go on top if you want a little extra sweetness!

So, if you are looking for something sweet to bring to a holiday gathering or just want a fun baking project to do over school break, I highly recommend trying out this cake! If you want to see some of the other recipes schools' have tried this year, check out our page or follow along to see what we try next!

Have a good break, we'll see you in the New Year! Happy Holidays!

12/16/2025

Do you know what goes great with potatoes? The students at Cooperstown Central School District got to find out during their taste test today where we had cheesy mashed potatoes!

Mashed is one of my favorite ways to eat potatoes and you can make so many kinds just by adding something different! This one used cheddar cheese, a little butter, milk and black pepper.

The kids were pretty split today with their votes, but there were still more thumbs up than down for this recipe! What are your favorite things to add to mashed potatoes?

12/15/2025

Come join us for our new workshop series! Make sure you come to the second session to learn about selling to schools and getting involved with the Farm to School Program!

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬!

Looking to diversify your markets, improve pricing strategies, or build your farm’s brand? Join us for a hands-on, four-session workshop series this January that explores direct-to-consumer, wholesale, and institutional sales.

Each session includes practical tools, activities, and insights from Extension educators and guests. Whether you're refining existing sales or exploring new ones, this series will help you plan for a profitable year ahead.

See the flyer below for dates and details
Register at: https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/farm_sales_243

12/12/2025

What better way to finish out the week than with a special treat! Today students at Edmeston Central School got to experience potatoes in the form of a donut, otherwise known as 'Spudnuts'!

The kids were all very surprised to find out that it was even possible to make donuts with a potato, but I assure you they were not disappointed. The votes on this recipe were pretty clear; they thought these Spudnuts were great even without icing!

Some of the kids even asked for the recipe, so if you are looking for a fun cooking project to do at home this weekend here it is! Spudnuts, from Red Star, are bound to be a hit, follow the link for the recipe that we used! https://redstaryeast.com/recipes/spudnuts-glazed-yeast-doughnuts/

Keep scrolling if you want to see happy kids and how we made these spudnuts go from dough to warm golden deliciousness! And come follow us if you want to see more SPUD content!

12/11/2025

We are all about potatoes 🥔 this month, so today Worcester Central School students got to try a loaded potato salad with bacon, featuring potatoes from the local Crossroads Country Farm!

As always, you can't please everyone, but most of the kids liked this new version of potato salad. Some of them even asked when it would be added to the lunch menu, which is always a good sign!

We'll be back in January for our next tasting, so follow along if you don't want to miss it!

12/05/2025

🥔 Potato Fun Facts! Do you want to know where you can find the world's biggest potato crisp?

This month we are celebrating potatoes as our Harvest of the Month! And do you know which state is the biggest producer of potatoes in the US?

If you said Idaho, you are correct! They love potatoes so much that they even have a museum dedicated to them. In Blackfoot, Idaho, you can visit and learn all about potatoes and see a giant, 13 ft long baked potato sculpture. The Potato Museum is also the home to the Guinness World Record holder for largest potato crisp!

Made in 1991, a team of Pringles employees made a potato crisp measuring 25 inches long, 14 inches wide, and weighing 1/3 of a pound! Pringles then donated their creation to the Potato Museum where it was put on display.

Why is it called a "crisp" instead of a "chip"? Chips are made by frying thin slices of potato. While crisps dehydrated potatoes that have been processed and formed into "chip" shapes by a machine.

If you love potatoes and want to learn more fun facts, like and follow our page so you don't miss out!

*Photo credits: Idaho Potato Museum and Reddit

12/03/2025

A new month means a new harvest, and another taste test! For December we are featuring potatoes. 🥔 And we started off strong today with a potato, corn, and cauliflower soup at Schenevus Central School District!

Most of the students liked it, but the thicker consistency through a few of them off. Either way it was another successful Harvest of the Month tasting. We'll be back in January for the next one, but follow along if you want to learn potato fun facts and recipes in the meantime!

11/21/2025

We've had our last tasting of the month! Sharon Springs Central School students got a sweet treat today and had to guess what the "secret ingredient" was in the brownies after trying them.

There were some good guesses, and there were a few who figured it out. The rest of the students (and staff) were surprised to find out it was butternut squash! Most of our group voted that they liked the squash brownies, while others were not big fans of the texture that the squash gave them.

Either way it was a lot of fun and the kids got to try something new! The brownies were even made with local butternut squash from Reta Parsons Farm stand!

Come back in December to see what we try next! Or follow along to see more Farm to School content!

11/20/2025

Have you tried Hubbard squash before? I'm not sure I had it before today's tasting, but I thought it was delicious! However, not all the students of Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School agreed with me. The kids were divided pretty evenly on whether or not they liked this dish. I know squash can be a hard sell sometimes, but I'm glad they were still willing to try it!

The squash was roasted then mashed with some butter, brown sugar and maple syrup! If you put some marshmallows on top, you might mistake it for sweet potato casserole! Shout out to Limesprings Farm for suppling the squash and the maple syrup that were used in today's tasting!

Unfortunately, I was too busy handing out samples to get any pictures of the kids trying it. I'll let you imagine what kind of faces they made. 😁 Until next time!

11/18/2025

November is the perfect time to try a pumpkin treat! Today the elementary students of Cooperstown Central School District got to try a pumpkin parfait!

Made with NY yogurt and pumpkin spice granola from the local Hillview Stock Farm! It sure was tasty!

As usual the kids had a good time and were happy to try something new! If you want to make it at home scroll down to find the recipe! It's only 3 ingredients!

Stay tuned to see what we try next time!

11/13/2025

We got to try another tasty treat today! Students of Edmeston Central School got to try these homemade Butternut cookies!

These cookies were a hit with the students and they've requested that they get put on the menu in the future!

If you want to try these at home you're in luck! Scroll down and you'll find a picture of the recipe. It does say to use margarine, but you can absolutely use butter instead if you prefer.

Let us know what you think of this month's tasting, would you try one of these cookies? If you want to see what other activities we get up to, be sure to follow so you don't miss out!

11/12/2025

Come try a new recipe! With the temperature dropping and the snow coming down, it's the perfect time to make some soup using our Harvest of the Month!

I recently made a batch of this Butternut Squash Apple Soup, and it got a 10/10 in my house! Add a grilled cheese sandwich and you've got a hot cozy meal to enjoy after a cold day!

You'll need:
1 small onion, chopped
1 tablespoon butter
1 garlic clove, minced
6 cups cubed peeled butternut squash
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 large apple, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup water
1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup half-and-half cream

You will also need a blender to blend it all together for a thick, creamy texture.

I added extra broth and water to be able to cover the squash, but that could depend on what size pot you use. Don't be afraid to adjust a recipe, especially when it comes to seasoning, make it the way you like it!

You'll find the full recipe from Taste of Home here! https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/apple-butternut-soup/

If you would try this recipe, hit the like button. Or comment with your favorite squash recipe!