Are you interested in introducing the Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month (PA HOM) program to children at your early care and education or summer feeding site?
Join us for a 3-hour session to be offered this August and September for Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program sponsors. These sessions, provide an overview of PA HOM, discuss resources available, and provide ideas about how to engage children.
Ways to implement PA HOM include educational activities, taste tests, and meals. Sponsors that do not prepare meals are encouraged to attend, as well as those that do.
Sessions will include a hands-on food preparation activity and light meal. Chef Bill Scepansky, Smart Partners, LLC teaches the class. A limited number of travel scholarships are available to support attendance.
| Dates | Time | Site | Register |
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| September 2, 2026 | 1:00pm – 4:00pm | Phipps Conservatory 1 Schenley Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15213++ |
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| September 23, 2026 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm | Community College of Philadelphia 1700 Spring Garden Street Philadelphia, PA 19130 |
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++ To find via GPS, use 700 Frank Curto Drive as the locator address.
Registration
Registration is free. Space at these sessions is limited. Registration is first-come, first-served. Registration will close when the session fills.
If space is available prior to a session individuals on the waiting list will be invited to attend.
Use the links at the upper left of this page under the heading "Register Here," or click on one of the "Register Now" buttons above to begin the registration process.
For questions about registration, send e-mail to
Travel Scholarships
A limited number of travel scholarships ($200) are available for these sessions on a first-come, first-served basis. Interest in a travel scholarship should be indicated on the registration form. Receipt of a scholarship will require completion of an online registration form through Penn State. Payments will be made following the session.
Session Information
These are hands-on sessions led by a certified chef. Topics expected to be covered will include knife skills, vegetable cookery, salads and dressings, seasonings and flavorings, food presentation, and more.
Each participant should bring the following:
- Chef-type knife (sharp and in good condition) with either an 8” or 10” blade** (Please transport in a safe manner.)
- A 15” x 20” poly-type cutting board (white or green)**
- Vegetable peeler**
- Apron
**Please label these items with your name to ensure that you leave with the items you brought.
Because these are hands-on sessions, please wear appropriate food preparation attire (e.g. closed-toe shoes, etc.).
These sessions are offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Food and Nutrition through Penn State (Project PA). These sessions are funded through a USDA Farm to School State Formula Grant. This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organization imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Funding and Non-discrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
1. mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
04/21/2025
