Feed Every Child, Every Day
Food & Nutrition Services Fun Facts
40,000 Breakfast
meals served daily
50,000 Lunch
meals served daily
23,000 Pounds
of fresh produce by DPS Farms
Over 50%
of our meals are made from scratch
Something Good For Everyone!
Stephen Cochenour holds an unconventional position within Denver Public Schools (DPS). He runs a half-acre farm that sits on the grounds of Schmitt Elementary School. There, Farmer Stephen, as he’s known, grows cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini.
From seed to table, Cochenour’s produce never travels far. In partnership with Acres, a Warren Tech program, seedlings are grown in greenhouses, then transplanted in the farm at Schmitt. The plants grow in a field and the very day they are harvested, they are delivered to the DPS warehouse that distributes the fresh produce to school cafeterias.
Stephen Cochenour, Farmer
So far this year, the farm at Schmitt farm has produced 1,500 pounds of cherry tomatoes, 1,200 pounds of Roma tomatoes and 1,800 pounds of cucumbers – with harvesting still underway. The total for the season is unpredictable because many of the details are in the hands of Mother Nature.
Being in contact with the plants throughout the whole process guarantees high nutritional quality in the produce. In addition, the ability to harvest produce as close to peak of its maturity as possible offers better flavor compared to that which is picked early and shipped across the country. It makes a big difference, says Cochenour. “
DPS is Committed to Feeding Every Child, Every Day! Press Release
Pork Bibimbap Bowl
30 mins to 1 hour
Less than 10 mins
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ lb cooked and shredded pork
- ¼ C Korean BBQ sauce
- 1 C shredded purple cabbage
- 1C cucumbers cut into half moons
- ¼ C shredded carrots
- 1 lb brown rice
- ¼ C cilantro
- ¼ C fresh jalapenos, sliced into rounds
Preparation:
Warm meat, add sauce and stir to combine. Combine all vegetables except the cilantro and jalapenos. Prepare rice according to package instructions. In 4 bowls, add 1 C of rice, 3 ½ oz pork, ½ C vegetable mix, 2 t cilantro, and 3-4 slices of jalapenos.
Serve and enjoy.
EASY RECIPE: 30 Mins
