131023_GT_ABO_EAT_3

Allegra Boverman/Gloucester Daily Times. Allegra Boverman/Gloucester Daily Times. FoodCorps member Connie Chuensumran, right, gives more samples of roasted butternut squash to Veterans' Memorial Elementary School students Emily Taormina, left, and Ilyana Lorenzana during the school's celebration of Food Day on Wednesday. The national day is actually held on Oct. 24. Food Day is a national day to celebrate healthy, sustainable, affordable food. The featured vegetable was butternut squash, and it was provided to the school by local farms including Marshall Farms in Gloucester and Mehaffey Farm in Rowley, and sponsored by the school, Gloucester Public School Food Service, Cape Ann Farmers' Market, local farmers, Backyard Growers, The Open Door and FoodCorps. The butternut squash was roasted in olive oil, salt and pepper and dusted with cinnamon in some batches and brown sugar in others. Students were encouraged to sample them and many students wanted seconds and thirds. Organizers were worried that there wouldn't be enough for all the lunch periods, the squash was such a hit. Lorenzana said the squash "tastes like pure awesomeness."

131023ABOEAT