From Seed to Salad: Evergreen School District Celebrates Student-Grown Harvest with Flex Farms
At Fork Farms, we believe that access to fresh, healthy food and hands-on learning shouldn’t be limited by geography, budget, or season. That’s why we’re proud to partner with forward-thinking districts like Evergreen School District in San Jose, California, where innovation and impact go hand in hand.
On May 30, Evergreen hosted a joyful, end-of-school-year harvest celebration at Katherine Smith Elementary School, showcasing more than 20 pounds of hydroponically grown produce cultivated by students themselves using Flex Farms. This innovative vertical hydroponic technology system to grow food indoors has become a centerpiece for both nutrition and education across the district.
A Growing Movement in Evergreen
What started with a single Flex Farm in the district’s Nutrition Services office has flourished into a network of 13 Flex Farms located in classrooms, cafeterias, and even the Central Kitchen. Each month, the systems produce up to 150 pounds of fresh greens—including lettuce, kale, arugula, cucumbers, and more—that are served directly to students in their school meals.
The impact is both immediate and far-reaching: students experience the satisfaction of growing their own food, school meals are enriched with hyper-fresh, nutrient-dense ingredients, and the entire community benefits from a stronger connection to sustainable agriculture.
Harvest as a Hands-On STEM Experience
At Katherine Smith Elementary—a Title I school committed to project-based learning—students are not just growing food; they’re cultivating growing minds. As part of an afterschool gardening program, they monitor pH levels, adjust nutrient mixes, and study the growth cycle from seed to harvest. These activities tie directly into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum, giving students a real-world context for their learning.
“We’re seeing students light up when they realize they’re not just learning science—they’re doing science,” said Shan Gao, Child Nutrition Supervisor at Evergreen. “They’re solving problems, collaborating, and seeing the results of their work go directly onto their cafeteria trays.”
Central Kitchen: Home of the “Salad Machines”
Beyond individual schools, Evergreen’s Central Kitchen plays a vital role in scaling the impact of its hydroponic farming program. Fondly nicknamed “the salad machines,” the Flex Farms at the Central Kitchen produce and package fresh greens for distribution to all 16 schools in the district. It’s an impressive model of efficiency and equity, ensuring every student has access to the same high-quality, farm-fresh produce, harvested and served in a matter of minutes.
From Food Security to Food Sovereignty
The Flex Farm initiative is especially meaningful in a region where food insecurity remains a challenge. By bringing agriculture indoors, directly into the places where students learn and eat, Evergreen is not only addressing immediate nutritional needs—it’s empowering the next generation with the tools to grow their own food, understand sustainability, and build healthier communities.
This program also supports Evergreen’s broader commitment to health and wellness: the district is proud to be among the 99% of U.S. school districts meeting USDA’s healthier meal standards. But more than that, they’re working to create lasting change by educating students about where their food comes from and how to make informed, lifelong choices about nutrition.
We are honored to celebrate Evergreen School District’s growing success and look forward to seeing where they go next. Because when students grow food, they grow more than produce—they grow skills, confidence, and a deeper connection to the world around them.
Interested in learning how Flex Farms can transform your school or community? Contact Fork Farms today.
