14Free Episode 2 - Harwood Union High School

We are excited to officially launch our 14Free campaign with this video of Harwood Union High School in Washington County. The Harwood Union meal program is truly a model for schools looking to transform their meals. Six years ago Harwood Union’s meal program was almost $100,000 in debt and the meal quality was so low teachers and students rarely ate the food. Thanks to the dedication of the school board, school administrators, parents, and students the cafeteria was transformed and Chef Paul Morris was hired. Chef Paul (as everyone calls him) phased out unhealthful foods and started cooking from scratch with the mantra “I will give them something healthier that they will like better.”

Chef Paul’s creativity and energy has revitalized this school’s meal program. For example, he has found inventive ways to process large quantities of fresh produce which for some schools is often a barrier to providing local produce. Last fall he hosted a contest for the girl’s soccer team to see who could shuck corn the fastest—this was a fun way to get the students involved in their meal program while making it possible to offer local food.

The mission of the meal program at Harwood is, “to provide Harwood Union students with the knowledge, skills and environment to make food choices that support healthy bodies, healthy minds and a healthy planet.” The school has truly embraced this mission—a symbol of which is illustrated by the pictures on the hallway and cafeteria walls of all the local farmers, bakers, and companies whose foods are featured in the school’s meals.

Today almost every kid in school participates in the school meal program which is completely out of debt and has become profitable for the school. We visited Harwood Union on “localvore day” and ate truly delicious, fresh food. The students, teachers, and administrators expressed their pride in Chef Paul and their meal program over and over again. They also believe strongly that this program can be replicated across Vermont and the country.

Please join us in celebrating Chef Paul Morris and his team at Harwood Union High School for this remarkable program.