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FBISD's new indoor hydroponic garden to bring fresh local produce to school cafeterias

Fort Bend ISD (October 23, 2024) – Fort Bend ISD’s new hydroponic garden will bring more fresh, local produce to school cafeterias as it supports student success.

Hydroponic farming grows plants in an indoor, water-based solution rather than soil and provides fast growth rates and low maintenance.

Hydroponic farming aligns with the FBISD Child Nutrition Department's mission to provide students with nutritious food, support academic excellence, achieve economic stability and offer essential nutritional services to students, staff and the community.

FBISD’s Dietician Susan Nayeri is helping with the implementation of the new initiative. 

“Hydroponic farming has the potential to help us achieve our department’s commitment to promote student engagement, address food insecurity and enhance academic success,” Nayeri said. 

Research indicates students who consume balanced, nutrient-dense meals demonstrate improved academic performance. Additionally, hydroponics presents valuable educational opportunities, including allowing students to explore the science behind sustainable agriculture, nutrition and other STEM-related activities.

To implement this initiative, the district partnered with Fork Farms, a hydroponic farming company that provides the Flex Farm — an indoor vertical hydroponic system. The company caters to schools and offers free support for teachers who would like to integrate hydroponic farming into their lesson plans.

“We believe Fork Farms can create a positive educational and nutritional experience for our students,” Nayeri said. “Our goal is to incorporate this program into the district, potentially as an extracurricular activity or within curriculums blending science, nutrition, and even culinary arts.”

FBISD’s first Flex Farm is currently housed at the district’s Child Nutrition Department. Flex Farms can yield more than 25 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables every month.

The district plans to begin integration of hydroponic education over the next year with the goal of using the Flex Farm as a model for schools to help students understand the importance of school gardens and the benefits of fresh, local produce.

National Farm to School Month

October is National Farm to School Month, a time when schools celebrate connections between schools, food and local farmers. Farm to school enriches the connection communities have with fresh, nutritious food and local producers by enhancing education practices at schools.

FBISD prioritizes purchasing local produce whenever possible and showcases the foods through its Harvest of the Month program. In addition, the department incorporates seasonal items into cafeteria menus when possible.

For more information, visit www.fortbendisd.com/childnutrition.

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