Gorham, ME – A batch of honey made by the Gorham High School Beekeeping Club has made its way into school cafeterias across the district! 

In December of 2024, the Beekeeping Club was selling the honey they had produced, unaware that it would be a featured ingredient in cafeterias across five schools.  Recognizing an opportunity to support student-led agriculture, the Gorham School Nutrition Department purchased five jars of the beekeeping club’s honey and issued a challenge: each school was to incorporate the honey into their menu in a unique way.

The results were as sweet as they were inventive: 

• Gorham Middle School featured Honey Parfaits, adding a naturally sweet touch to their breakfast options.

• Great Falls Elementary incorporated the honey into homemade granola, providing students with a wholesome, crunchy snack.

• Narragansett Elementary took a simple yet delicious approach, drizzling honey over fresh banana slices.

• Village Elementary blended the honey into warm cinnamon oatmeal, enhancing breakfast with a rich local flavor.

• Gorham High School made a “hot honey” infused with red pepper flakes which was used to drizzle on their mashed potato pizza. (yum!)

The initiative was met with enthusiasm from both students and staff. For members of the Beekeeping Club, seeing their honey enjoyed throughout the district was an exciting recognition of their hard work. More than just a flavorful addition to meals, this project highlighted the broader benefits of farm-to-school programs, aligning with all three pillars of Farm to School: Cafeteria, Classroom, and Community.

• Cafeteria: Student-produced honey was featured in school meals across the district, demonstrating how local ingredients can enhance nutrition and creativity in school food programs.

• Classroom: Bee Club members gained hands-on experience in beekeeping, food systems, and sustainability.

• Community: The entire school district engaged with the project, fostering pride in student-led initiatives, an appreciation for local food, and a deeper understanding of the role of pollinators in our food system.

A big shoutout to the Gorham High School Beekeeping Club for their amazing honey and the Gorham Nutrition Department for their creative thoughtfulness and  innovative school meals! This is a sweet example of the many creative ways that local food can be incorporated into school cafeterias, and the far reaching benefits of farm-to-school programs across a school community.