FoodChain

Program Type: 
Farm Based, Garden Classrooms, Kitchen Classrooms, Support Organization
Grade Level/Age Group: 
Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Number of Individuals Program Serves: 
5,000
Year Founded: 
2011
About the Program: 

FoodChain is a nonprofit that strives to forge links between our community and food by

  • improving access to fresh food,
  • education and demonstration of innovative growing in an urban aquaponics farm,
  • teaching cooking classes focused on health, affordability and seasonality,
  • increasing local food distribution with a processing kitchen and green grocery,
  • and maximizing social impact through living wage employment and job training.

Our primary focus is to serve the low-income, food-insecure area in which we are located. We work with many schools, particularly those with high percentages of free and reduced lunch, in aquaponics, Farm to School and cooking education. We value empowerment through healthy food choices, community encompassing diverse and meaningful food traditions and sustainability of a local and equitable food economy. All of our educational efforts are focused on hands-on real world application of everyday life skills, whether it be growing, cooking or eating food.