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Three to five year olds at Alphabets Preschool Center on Grand Avenue invited a few special guests to lunch Friday. The guest list consisted of state, county and local dignitaries, as well as members of the media.

“Would you like to sit here,” 5-year-old Akim said to the Sun reporter as the guests entered their classroom. “Sit here,” Shakur, 5, said pointing to an empty seat in between him and Akim. One by one, they introduced themselves – “I’m Dara, what is your name,” a 5-year-old sitting next to Akim said. “I’m Terriah,” a 4-year-old sitting at the head of the table said.

The four made polite conversation, sharing their favorite fruits and vegetables, and a few secrets and laughs along the way. When the food was served, they each took turns, displaying impeccable table manners, serving themselves and passing a dish around the table counter clockwise.

On the menu was Panko crusted porgy [from Local 130 Seafood on Memorial Drive] atop a bed of romaine, broccoli, kale chips, pineapple, and arugula. The vegetables came from their own garden, with the exception of the arugula – an addition from Teresa Reed of Beyond Organic Farms in Freehold, who was on hand to speak to the school’s 60 students about March’s star vegetable – lettuce.

Her 3,500-square-foot greenhouse features 15,000 aeroponic vertical plants and 7,000 seedlings that use 90 percent less land and water, she said.

“The thing that I like about aeroponics is that we are controlling the pH and the nutrients,” she said.

As we ate, we played — not for me, like it or love it, a regular occurrence during meal time they explained. The game is based in creating an adventurous approach to trying to new food on their daily menu, which is steeped in sustainable ingredients and scratch made fare.

Before lunch Esther Piekarski, the 35-year-old school’s director and owner was presented with a US Department of Agriculture Certificate of Appreciation for their Farm to Preschool program.

“Let’s begin by doing what I ask the kids to do – take a deep belly breath and focus on the here now,” Piekarski said as she welcomed everyone from Mayor John Moor, Freeholder Director Tom Arnone, Freeholders John Curley and Gerry Scharfenberger to Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling, USDA’s Roberta Hodsdon, Tim Walsh and Tegan Hagy, NJ Dept. of Agriculture’s Rose Tricario, Stephanie Sutton-Page, Chris Cirkus, and Mike Smith.

Hodsdon, director of the USDA Community Nutrition, said in recognition of the Child and Adult Care Food Program [CACFP] 50th anniversary, they created an awards program. Participating schools were judged on program integrity, meal quality, nutrition education, wellness, and farm to CACFP – a category the school is excelling in, she said.

“We are thrilled to be here today to recognizing the amazing work you are doing in using local foods while increasing the meal quality. For children in particular, in addition to receiving healthy food and the impact it has on their ability to learn and thrive, it also helps them to learn things that will have long lasting impact in their lives and the ability to try different things in a safe environment.”

She commended the school for their ‘exemplary commitment’ for sourcing local produce, fish and for their garden.

Houghtaling, who is Vice Chair of the NJ Agricultural Committee, said the state is on the cutting edge of what is happening in agriculture, particularly with those who have embraced hydroponic and aeroponic methods.

“There’s all different types of ways to grow agriculture in the state,” he said. “It’s not only just horizontal, we are going up now because we are literally running out of room.”

He said $62 million was allocated in 2017 for farmland preservation, and although agriculture is the third leading industry in the state, they need more educators. Houghtaling said, he and Downey have introduced loan forgiveness legislation for those who enter the field.  

Tricario said the farm to school initiative is taking off, as evident from Wednesday’s Jersey Fresh Farm to School Conference.

“We actually had to shut registration down three weeks before because we were at maximum attendance,” she said. “It’s a big testament to see how many people are interested in starting to  teach children about fruits and vegetables at early ages.”

According to a National School Lunch Program survey 255 schools purchase some local produce, 223 districts said they purchase local produce directly from farms, 212 districts said they connect curriculum that ties cafeteria meals to healthy eating education, and 114 districts said they organize field trips to farms.

Arnone, who created the Suburban-Urban School Healthy Initiative [SUSHI] last year that launched with Colts Necks and Asbury Park fifth graders coming together for a hands on afterschool program, said the program piggybacks on the state program.

Mayor John Moor said whoever thought up the program should be given raise.

But that person is Piekarski’s husband Terry Lysaght, a landscaper by trade who not only created the garden but worked with school educators to develop a curriculum. It was his idea that we sit and eat with the children, Piekarski said.

As lunch ended, and we were on our way to meet Chef Lisa Baker, Akim, Shakur, Dara and Terriah called me back to clear my place setting; instructing me on where to place my utensils, plate, placemat and napkin for recycling purposes.  

Baker said they used very little canned food – applesauce and canned tomatoes only.

“I don’t think there are too many schools that do this,” Baker said.

Piekarski said the scratch made approach is not more expensive but takes more commitment to ensure they are meeting the Farm to Preschool guidelines.

“The garden has meant so much to the school over the years and it’s a big part of what we do here, especially during the growing season,” Piekarski said. “It allows the children to learn about the food we grow and when they understand where it comes from, it makes them more likely to try eating different produce.”

Moor said he enjoyed interacting with the students.

“They were so genuine and I am leaving here with six new stories,” he said. “The food was fantastic but the kids made it a great experience.”

Funding for the Alphabets Preschool Center program is supported by the federally funded CACFP. The recognition falls in line with Gov Phil Murphy’s March 11-17 Child and Adult Care Food Program Week, aimed at bringing awareness to how the program works to combat hunger. CACFP provides meals to 4.2 million children and 130,000 elderly or disabled adults daily. To learn more about the Farm to School Program, click here. go to .

To learn more about Alphabets Preschool Center, click here.

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