On Friday Nov. 20, a chef and a farmer joined forces to introduce students at Indian Mills School to the wonders of the cranberry. During the lunch period, Mr. Thomas Gerber, a Medford cranberry farmer, and Mr. Michael Gattis, a chef from Princeton University did a bit more than just open cans of cranberry sauce! These two exceptional gentlemen patiently explained to all classes and grades what this remarkable little berry is all about.
Funded through a grant provided by the Shamong Foundation for Educational Excellence, the program was part of an ongoing effort to enhance student awareness of the importance of local farming. Additionally, as Mrs. Kimberly Shaw-Hartman pointed out, it helped strengthen the continuing themes expressed in the classroom on healthy eating choices.
The school turned over the cafeteria to Gerber and Gattis, who then went about the task of explaining everything from the procedures for growing and harvesting the cranberry to preparing orange cranberry sauce fit for the Thanksgiving table. Since it was lunch, students were given ample opportunities to supplement their lunch choices with both freshly harvested cranberries and orange cranberry sauce. No one left the room hungry, which is the surest sign of a successful presentation.
