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School Food Innovator Series

chopping brocolli
School Food Innovator Series
Event Recordings and Resources

School Food Innovator Series

Virtual gatherings for school nutrition professionals focused on building resilient school food systems in California.

students hold lettuce at farm

Photo Credit: Old Grove Orange

UPCOMING EVENT
Partner with Local Farmers
May 1, 2024, 1:30 – 2:45 p.m. PT

Register now.

Join the Center for Ecoliteracy and the Community Alliance with Family Farmers to learn strategies for building relationships with local farmers, navigating bidding rules and regulations, and sourcing more California-grown fruits and vegetables for your students.

Panelists:

  • Cassidy Boardman, Interim Director of Nutrition Services & Farm to School Manager, Upland Unified School District
  • Anna Nakamura Knight, Farmer/Partner, Old Grove Orange
  • Tammy White, Director of Nutrition Services, San Jacinto Unified School District
     

Lead Engaging Student Taste Tests
February 28, 2024

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Download the slides.

Learn strategies for adapting taste tests for all age groups, engaging students on new menu items and breakfast offerings, and partnering with local farmers to introduce new fruits and vegetables.

Support Your Team's Success with Fresh, Local Food
December 6, 2023

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Download the slides.

Hear from a panel of experts on involving your staff in recipe and menu development, building relationships with local farmers, and incorporating seasonal fruits and vegetables into your menu planning.

Strategies for Freshly-Prepared
September 27, 2023

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Learn strategies for serving freshly-prepared school meals featuring California-grown fruits and vegetables from LunchAssist, Spork Food Hub, and Santa Ana Unified School District.

Support for Summer Meals
April 19, 2023

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This session focused on best practices for summer meals and farm to summer programming. Get inspired by school nutrition leaders from the California Food for California Kids® Network as they share community outreach strategies, enrichment activities for students, and their favorite California-grown foods to serve in the summer.

Spotlight on Farm to School
November 30, 2022

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Are you starting with just a handful of seeds? Working to connect with local farmers? Managing a successful grant program? Guest speakers highlight connections between the school cafeteria, garden, and classroom in the California Food for California Kids® Network.

Putting School Meals for All into Practice
September 21, 2022

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Hear from school food experts on managing School Meals for All operations, ideas for including nutrition services in district-wide decision making, serving more freshly prepared ingredients in the cafeteria, innovations for breakfast service, and more.

Lessons from the Field in School Food Leadership
March 24, 2022

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Hear from school food leadership sharing ideas for strengthening staff morale, building successful community partnerships, and advocating for your school nutrition programs.

Fresh from California
December 2, 2021

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Learn about the Fresh from California campaign: an opportunity for school districts to increase access to California-grown fruits and vegetables. This session highlights ideas for increasing local procurement and guidance on activating connections with local fresh fruit and vegetable vendors.

Celebrating Leadership and Innovation
September 23, 2021

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Hear from a panel of awardees from the 2021 California Food for California Kids® Leadership and Innovation Awards, recognized for their creativity and initiative in improving school food and farm to school programs, advocating for better school food policies, and continuing to provide nutritious school meals to students and families during an exceptionally challenging school year. ​

Join us to connect with peers and take the next step toward more fresh, local school meals.
Crystal Whitelaw
Senior Program Manager