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Rooted in nutrition
Potatoes from Mack Family Farm enrich school meals
Mack Family Farm potatoes
Locally grown potatoes are harvested at Mack Family Farm in Bulloch County. On Tuesday, May 14, students at six Bulloch County Schools were served potatoes from the local farm as part of their hot lunches. (SPECIAL)

Students in Bulloch County Schools enjoyed a favorite root vegetable with their school meals this week — potatoes.

Mack Family Farm harvested 500 pounds of fresh red and Yukon gold potatoes, which were served at six of the school district's 15 schools on Tuesday, May 14: Mill  Creek Elementary, Southeast Bulloch Middle, Statesboro High, Stilson Elementary, Nevils Elementary and Sallie Zetterower Elementary. 

Mack Family Farm had hoped to be able to provide 1,600 pounds of potatoes for all of the district's schools, but unfortunately due to the timing of the order and lack of rain, yields were not as high as expected. The school district worked to find other sources to make up the difference, and the remaining schools' menus also featured potatoes, but from other farms.

Located in Bulloch County, Mack Family Farm is owned and operated by Alyssa Mackelprang. They grow tomatoes, sweet potatoes and potatoes, plus less familiar items like peanut butter fruit, pawpaws and sunsquats. They also offer their products through the Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market2Go service. Started in 2023, the farm's Facebook page describes their opening as a family dream for 20 years, and says their family of seven consists of "1 seed catalog addict, 1 chaos coordinator and 5 expert weeders."  

Bulloch County Schools' nutrition director Desiree Yaeger and nutrition coordinator Stephan Williams are partnering with local farmers to help build a culinary culture in Bulloch County Schools' cafeterias. Their efforts are also helping children make a connection between the food on their plates and how it's grown and delivered. Also, with the growth and diversity of the school district's students, who represent 18 different nationalities and 24 different languages, some of our local produce items and how they are prepared are being introduced to children for the first time. This school year, the district's School Nutrition Department has begun partnerships with Hunter Cattle Company for beef and Franklin's Farm for strawberries, plus future orders of citrus fruit, peaches and other produce as they come in season during the school year.