Announcement comes on the 80th anniversary of the National School Lunch Program
EVERETT – On the 80th anniversary of the National School Lunch Program, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is highlighting the work of Northampton Public Schools and other school districts that offer outstanding nutritious, locally-sourced free school meals with the help of federal and state support.Northampton is the winner of the 2026 Terrific Tray of the Year award for its school lunch tray featuring the new field fritter developed by Commonwealth Kitchen with peas grown in Maine, accompanied by carrots grown in Hadley, apples from New York, lettuce from Shirley, and tzatziki and allergen-free hummus.
"Congratulations to Northampton Public Schools on being named this year's Terrific Tray of the Year winner and thank you to all of the school nutrition professionals across Massachusetts who work every day to keep students healthy and ready to learn," said Governor Maura Healey. "Massachusetts is proud to have made universal free school meals permanent in our state, which helps students succeed in the classroom and also creates opportunities for local farmers. This recognition highlights the incredible partnerships that make nutritious, locally sourced meals possible for children across our state."
"School meals do so much more than feed students. They connect children to local farms, introduce them to new foods, and help build healthy habits that can last a lifetime," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. "Congratulations to Northampton and all of this year's Terrific Tray winners for showing what is possible when schools, farmers, and communities work together."
Governor Healey and the state legislature made universal free school meals permanent in 2023. Since then, schools have seen increased meal participation and reduced stigma around school meals. Greater financial stability has allowed schools to use fresher foods and get creative with their menus.
In addition, DESE and Massachusetts Farm to School launched the Northeast Food for Schools Challenge, a statewide initiative that encourages schools to buy more regionally produced food and to participate in a new local food purchase tracking effort to track local food origins and enhance transparency of where school meal ingredients come from.
This school year, approximately 588,000 students ate lunch and 292,000 ate breakfast every day across the state. Over 12 million lunches and six million breakfasts were served each month.
“I want to thank all school nutrition teams across the state for their commitment to serving healthy lunches and breakfasts —which contributes to students’ readiness to learn. Congratulations to Northampton and the nutrition teams at all of this year’s Terrific Tray honorees,” said Education Secretary Steve Zrike. “Boston was one of the first cities to offer school meals in the early 1900s and Massachusetts is now one of several states that ended school meal debt and made universal school meals permanent. On the 80th anniversary of the National School Meals program, we want to lift up the critical importance of this program in supporting student food security and wellbeing.”
“Our school nutrition professionals have an important role in keeping our students ready for learning,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “I’m impressed by the wide range of ingredients and meals that reflect local growers and local communities.”
Sponsored by DESE’s Office for Food and Nutrition Programs and Massachusetts Farm to School, the Terrific Tray competition invites school nutrition programs to submit a photo of visually appealing, culturally relevant menus that include foods sourced from regional farms, dairies and fisheries. Each month’s winner receives $2,500 from the Henry P. Kendall Foundation to reinvest in their school nutrition program and is featured on social media. The public votes on a winner from among the monthly honorees.
Members of Northampton’s school food service program, Freshampton, were presented with the Terrific Tray award at the statewide Healthy Kids, Healthy Programs Summit last month.
“The Terrific Trays initiative represents the power of partnerships between farms, schools, and food system members,” said Ashley Randle, commissioner of Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. “Students gain access to meals prepared with healthy, nutritious, and locally grown ingredients, produced by the state’s hard-working farmers and Commonwealth Kitchen provides the infrastructure and creativity to turn these ingredients into flavorful and exciting dishes for them to enjoy. Congratulations to the team at Northampton Public Schools and thank you for your commitment to sourcing local!”
"A huge congratulations to our incredible Freshampton team led by Mistelle Hannah," said Dr. Portia S. Bonner, superintendent of Northampton Public Schools. "The team's dedication to the Terrific Trays initiative ensures that healthy, locally sourced, and completely free school meals aren't just a district goal—they’re a daily reality for our students. We remain committed to nourishing our community’s future, one fresh, delicious tray at a time."
“Northampton Public Schools continues to be at the forefront of farm to school efforts across the Commonwealth,” said Lisa Damon, co-director of Massachusetts Farm to School. They are sourcing local foods, maintaining extensive school gardens, hosting regular taste tests in the cafeterias, and connecting students to where their food comes from through farm field trips. From the cafeteria to the classroom to the community, they have built something truly special, and we are thrilled to shine a light on their remarkable work.”
Today is the 80th anniversary of the National School Lunch Program, which was established under the National School Lunch Act that President Harry Truman signed in 1946. More information about the anniversary is available through the School Nutrition Association.
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