Wisconsin School Earns Recognition for Farm to Table

Holmen Nutrition Services (WI) is proving that some of the best farm-to-table meals in La Crosse County are being served in school cafeterias. The program was recently named Best Farm to Table Restaurant by the La Crosse Tribune, earning top honors alongside well-known local restaurants. 

“It’s very humbling to be recognized,” said Michael Gasper, Director of Nutrition Services for the School District of Holmen. “Sometimes in school food service, we feel like we operate in a bubble, but this shows people really are paying attention.”

The recognition came through a community readers’ choice contest, where nominations and votes are submitted by the public. Gasper noted the nomination was completely organic.

“To even be nominated means someone thought enough of what we do to put our name forward,” Gasper said. “We’ve never nominated ourselves.”

Serving nearly 4,000 students across six schools, Holmen Nutrition Services has built a program rooted in local sourcing and scratch cooking. The district features locally sourced Black Angus beef, pork, fresh herbs and bakery items as well as student-grown produce on menus throughout the year. Hydroponic lettuce systems and a high school greenhouse all contribute directly to student meals.

Perhaps most unique is the district’s student-supported apple orchard, which is planted, maintained and harvested with help from students across grade levels. Apples from the orchard make their way into meals and celebrations throughout the school year.

“We really focus on real, whole food and locally sourced food,” Gasper shared. “Our kids trust us. They know the food is going to be good, so they’re willing to try new things.”

That trust has allowed the team to introduce bold menu items, including Indian-inspired dishes like chicken tikka masala. Students consistently line up for meals that might once have seemed outside the norm.

Student favorites are prepared and served with extra attention to fresh ingredients, such as locally sourced burgers and award-winning spaghetti sauce made with house-seasoned meats and fresh herbs.

This year, the program added an in-house smoker to its operation, preparing items like brisket, pulled pork and smoked pork loin using locally sourced meats. These efforts highlight staff skill, creativity, and pride.

“My staff takes an enormous amount of pride in what they do. They truly care and that shows in the food we serve every day,” Gasper said.

For Holmen Nutrition Services, being named the county’s best farm-to-table restaurant reinforces what school nutrition professionals know well: when schools invest in quality ingredients and passionate teams, students and communities take notice.