To the Editor:

After reading the article featured in the Times Record about our recent efforts to supply locally sourced foods for Brunswick’s school children (“Local food fortifies Stowe school menu,” Nov. 27), I feel compelled to clarify comments that were perceived as offensive.

In a discussion with the Times Record’s JT Leonard, I spoke candidly about my belief that our school institutions are failing future generations by not offering enough healthful food options that support localized and organic forms of agriculture. Our mission at FoodCycle is, after all, to create collaborations between public schools and small-scale organic farms.

In expressing my frustration, I made an error in comparing school lunches to “prison food.” I have never eaten prison food, yet I can easily imagine that it lacks in nutritional value and taste.

In attempting to make an analogy, I reverted to hyperbole which, at the very least, was unproductive and, as I have learned, offensive to the administrators and staff we seek to work with.

I do not believe the men and women who work in schoolfood service seek to serve children low-quality foods. On the contrary, I believe that they care very much and take great pride in seeing that children have access to breakfast and lunch each day.

Scott Smith, school nutrition director, called me personally to raise issue with my claim. Then and there, I more fully understood the impact my comparison had made.

For the past year, Scott and I have been collaborating to see FoodCycle’s work come to fruition. It has been his dedicated leadership and vision that has allowed our work to take root in Harriet Beecher Stowe this school year.

If my comments in any way offended local food service staff, I sincerely apologize.

I firmly believe more work needs to be done to promote sustainable school lunches, locally and nationally.

It is imperative that we meet this challenge collectively and in doing so begin to reverse the environmental, social and economic implications of eating lower-quality foods.

There are many people who have worked tirelessly to advance healthy lunches in schools and I am eager to continue working together to move forward with them.

Adam Williams
FoodCycle
Brunswick