A magical market

Dear Editor:Thank you to all the parents who stopped by Aspen Elementary School’s very first farmers’ market during back-to-school night! Almost all of the produce was harvested by AES students from our very own Magical Garden (located near the kindergarten playground), including fava beans, English peas, some beautiful looking beets, salad mix and herbs. We also were proud to have donations from local farmers which rounded out the offerings: Hillside Acres, DeVries Farm, Zephyors Farm, Okasawa Farms, First Fruits & Jack Reed-Roots & Shoots, and Wendy Mitchell of Avalanche Cheese. Plus, we also auctioned off the most gorgeous grass-fed beef tenderloin from Laroux Creek Natural Farms in Hotchkiss. Some lucky winner will have a feast this holiday season no doubt, and the proceeds help pay for the beautiful grass-fed beef our students eat here at Aspen Elementary and Aspen Middle schools! A big special thanks to David Bedford of Slow Food Roaring Fork; David’s expertise and thoughtful care of the Magical Garden all year long has produced a bountiful harvest on campus! We will definitely make the school farmers’ market an annual event! So why all the farmers’ market fuss? Well, all the proceeds will benefit the lunch program’s mission to ensure that all students have access to delicious, healthy, seasonal meals in order to grow their bodies, minds and future. All meals are made from locally grown, sustainable and organic ingredients to the greatest extent possible. Thanks to the Aspen community for supporting us in changing the way kids eat and the way they think about food. Come have lunch with us some time! Tenille Folk, director of food servicesAspen Elementary & Aspen Middle schools