Green Bay Reporter

The Green Bay Area Public School (GBAPS) District has announced that three schools have received orchard installations and expansions through a collaboration with New Leaf Foods.

On May 2, 2025, volunteers from New Leaf Foods, alongside GBAPS students and staff, planted six fruit trees at Franklin Middle School and McAuliffe Elementary School. Each of these schools received two apple trees, two cherry trees, and two pear trees. Additionally, Jackson Elementary School expanded its existing orchard by adding two new trees. During the planting event, students were educated on the process of growing fruit and maintaining an orchard.

New Leaf Foods has been actively involved in establishing community orchards at various GBAPS schools over recent years. Previous installations have taken place at Chappell Elementary School, Edison Middle School, East High School, Jackson Elementary School, Green Bay Southwest High School, Lombardi Middle School, and Red Smith School. The aim of these orchards is to empower the Green Bay community to engage in sustainable urban agriculture by growing their own food.

The Community Orchards project is an extension of the Garden Blitz initiative and focuses on permaculture. In its inaugural year, the project established five orchards at Chappell Elementary, Red Smith K-8, Edison Middle School, Southwest High School, and Lombardi Middle School. According to New Leaf Foods, there are currently 10 orchards across Brown County with plans for further expansion.

The Green Bay Area Public School District is located in Northeast Wisconsin and is the fourth-largest public school district in the state. It serves over 18,000 students across 39 schools within the communities of Allouez, Ledgeview, Bellevue, Green Bay, and Scott. Founded in 1856, the district offers a variety of educational pathways tailored to meet student needs. It also boasts a rich history that includes a century-old football rivalry between East and West high schools as well as City Stadium's legacy as the original home field for the Green Bay Packers. The district's mission is to prepare students for success in college, careers, and their communities.