The 2023-24 faculty 12 months was the busiest but for the FruitGuys Farm-to-College Program, and we couldn’t be extra happy with the work our faculty staff has performed to convey recent fruit and greens to college students throughout California.
Left to proper: FruitGuys Operations Supervisor Billie Goodricke and Farm-to-College Program staff members Krizzia De La Cuesta, Carol Stewart, Krista Feldhouse, and Jaysa Tabbada
Our Farm-to-College Program: By the Numbers
These numbers have been potential partly as a result of we offer produce choices for each meal that colleges serve. We additionally work with state and federal grants just like the Contemporary Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) which give low-income colleges further funds to supply recent fruit and veggies. The colleges we serve have really unbelievable diet companies groups. They work arduous to maintain their college students fed, usually providing year-round packages and three meals a day plus snacks.
“For some youngsters, the meals and snacks they get at college are their primary supply of meals all day, so our fruit and greens matter—what we serve them issues.”
–Carol Stewart, The FruitGuys’ director of college program improvement
Throughout this previous faculty 12 months, our Farm-to-College Program expanded into new grants, linked with new farms, and labored carefully with districts to herald extra local-to-them produce. Right here’s a fast have a look at a few of the highlights of the 12 months for our faculty staff.
Attending The CDFA & CSNA Annual Conferences
In October 2023, FruitGuys Director of College Program Improvement Carol Stewart and FruitGuys President Erik Muller attended the California Division of Meals and Agriculture’s CA Farm to College Convention at Azia Farms in Palm Springs, California. They met with different farm-to-school packages to share ideas, swap sources, and discover much more methods to assist California youngsters.
Credit score Melissa Bandli (@cafarmtoschool / @melbellphotography)
Then, only a few days later, a lot of the faculty staff—together with Carol, Krista Feldhouse, Krizzia De La Cuesta, and Jaysa Tabbada—met up with FruitGuys CEO Erin Mittelstaedt and Operations Supervisor Billie Goodricke on the California College Diet Affiliation’s Annual Convention. The FruitGuys Farm-to-College Program had an attention grabbing sales space, and each present and potential clients got here by to seize a scrumptious piece of fruit and catch up.
Visiting College Districts: Winter 2023
In December 2023, Carol and Erin visited three California faculty districts. The diet companies employees welcomed them with open arms, and so they even had an opportunity to see college students sampling FruitGuys produce.
“It was fantastic visiting the colleges, seeing the children benefit from the produce, and seeing what a spotlight of their day it was,” Carol mentioned. “We bought to speak to them and discovered that they look ahead to the recent fruit! That wasn’t at all times the case—you couldn’t bribe them to eat a bit of fruit earlier than—nevertheless it has actually modified. I additionally cherished seeing first-hand how we’re serving to the kitchen employees and making their days simpler.”
The Farm to College Kickoff
In February, The FruitGuys staff visited the Los Angeles Unified College District (LAUSD) to take part of their Farm to College Kickoff. They have been there in partnership with the Neighborhood Alliance With Household Farmers’ 2024 California Small Farm Convention.
Carol, Erik, and Billie made the journey together with FruitGuys Produce Purchaser Miguel Esteban Robles, who sources produce for the Farm-to-College Program. The staff made some nice connections with LAUSD’s diet companies’ upper-level administration in addition to farmers from across the state.
Sponsoring the Banning Excessive College Enjoyable Run
The FruitGuys Farm-to-College Program was proud to sponsor the Banning Excessive College Enjoyable Run on April 26. It was an important match with our mission to assist youngsters keep wholesome and lively.
Miguel tabling on the Mountain View Neighborhood Honest
Tabling on the Mountain View Neighborhood Honest
In Could, Miguel represented the Farm-to-College Program at Mountain View College District’s Mountain View Neighborhood Honest. He handed out recent peaches and lychees to college students and their households—the sales space was a giant hit!
Visiting College Districts: Spring 2024
Simply at some point later, Carol and Erin bought collectively for an additional spherical of California faculty visits within the larger Los Angeles space. This time, they checked on 5 districts. Erin cherished assembly the diet companies groups and seeing their ardour for his or her work. As Carol put it, there have been “massive hugs” throughout.
Internet hosting The Santa Maria-Bonita Unified College District
On June 5, Carol, Erin, Czaranah, and Krizzia have been thrilled to host the director of Santa Maria-Bonita Unified College District, Carlos Murta, and nineteen faculty diet companies managers at The FruitGuys’ San Francisco workplace and warehouse. Operations Supervisor Nicole Wagner took them on a tour of the power and demonstrated taking the brix and strain readings on a bit of fruit. Erin additionally shared The FruitGuys’ mission and story.
Erin (left) talking to representatives from the Santa Maria-Bonita Unified College District
Sponsoring the Hacienda Pupil Chef Cooking Contest
Although the varsity staff can’t make it in particular person to the Hacienda Pupil Chef Cooking Contest on June 13, the Farm-to-College Program is proud to sponsor the occasion. We hope to cheer the children on in particular person subsequent 12 months.
Closing Ideas on the Yr
The 2023-24 faculty 12 months was an enormous success for the FruitGuys Farm-to-College Program and the colleges and college students that we serve.
Krista, The FruitGuys’ faculty account senior coordinator
“After I consider our faculty 12 months, the primary phrase that involves thoughts is ‘proud,’” mentioned Krista, the FruitGuys’ faculty account senior coordinator. “Carol began this system in 2008 after which I got here alongside shortly after, and simply to see how a lot it has grown I really feel super pleasure in what we’ve performed. I feel we are able to go even larger and higher for the children and our clients within the years to return.”
To maintain up with the most recent Farm-to-College Program information and be taught extra about what we provide colleges, take a look at this system’s web site.
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