Norfolk FFA students use freeze-drying to serve community

NORFOLK, Neb. — Norfolk Senior High's FFA students are tackling community needs head-on with a unique project funded by the National Living to Serve grant. This year, they've chosen to explore the art of freeze-drying, aiming to provide nutritious, long-lasting food to those in need.

Agriculture Education Instructor Jonathan Anderson explained the project's dual purpose: teaching students the process of freeze-drying while finding a practical way to give back to their community. "With this grant," said Anderson, "We're going to learn how to freeze dry. Instead of learning how to freeze dry Skittles just to pop in your mouth, we wanted to get an idea of, okay, if we freeze dried fruit, how can we give it back to our communities."

Students like freshman Adam Pinkelman described the science behind the process. "As it drastically heats up in the freezing chamber," said Pinkelman, "It’s going to skip the liquid phase of the water in the apple. So, it goes straight from its solid to a gas phase." Freshman Henry Peterson added that the fruits are freeze-dried in about two hours, then unloaded and vacuum sealed, turning them into long-lasting perishable items.

The FFA student program has already produced several pounds of freeze-dried goods, soon to be delivered to the local Rescue Mission. Anderson noted that the FFA has a great relationship with the Rescue Mission and will donate the food to them, serving "all of the homeless and the people in need of some food and some guidance."