Students across 7 southeastern Illinois counties will soon enjoy nutritious, farm-fresh food all school year—thanks to a new pilot project made possible by the convener of the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub, Illinois Public Health Institute, and Innovation Hub partners in 4 states, as part of USDA’s Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative!
The Greater Wabash Area Food Council project, Planting Farm2School in Southeastern Illinois, successfully purchased and installed a blast chiller unit in a donated space through a partnership with their local community college.
In late July 2025, Alizah Harper, SNAP-Ed Educator for Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, and Wayne counties, and Elizabeth Cooley-Questelle, SNAP-Ed Educator in Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Pope, Saline & White counties, rolled up their sleeves to help the Greater Wabash Food Council with their January 2026 featured Harvest of the Month, local sweet corn. The task: turn thousands of fresh ears of corn into a nutritious side for schools to serve during the winter months.
They, along with food service staff from local schools and additional trained volunteers, started the task of shucking three large pallets of freshly picked sweet corn, delivered by Bullard’s Farm Market and Bakery in Fairfield. Together, the group shucked, boiled, blanched, cut from the cob, blast-chilled, and vacuum-sealed hundreds of ears of corn in just more than a few hours. Another group of volunteers continued the task the same week.
Using a blast chiller to freeze seasonal produce—like sweet corn—the project will make it possible for schools to serve local favorites year-round. Three pilot schools—Edwards County CUSD #1, Grayville CUSD #1, and Allendale CUSD #17—tested recipes, gathered student feedback, and helped bring even more local crops into school cafeterias.
That’s the power of bringing together food service directors, farmers, health experts, students and educators to shape a sustainable, supportive school food system. We’re excited to watch this project grow in the future—nourishing students, supporting farmers and strengthening the local economy!
Would you like to learn about more Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub projects? Click here.
