FARMINGTON — RSU 9 Food Director Cheryl Ellis and Marble Family Farms are working together to offer certified organic squash in schools throughout the district.

The Marbles are delivering fresh pealed and cut squash to the school, which is then frozen until needed. The squash will be on the schools menus come February.

To test it out last week, Ellis said she placed a sign on the salad bar identifying the squash as organic and locally produced and some students gave it a try.

The Marbles said, “We hope that this is the start of getting local foods into the schools. It’s a win-win situation for everyone, and the biggest benefit is to the students eating it.”

The Marbles are interested in developing markets to other local institutions in the area and, if successful, plan on increasing the amount of squash they plant next year.