SACRAMENTO, CA. (September 18, 2019) – Food Literacy Center is pleased to announce the official groundbreaking of the Food Literacy Center’s future cooking school at Floyd Farms. Floyd Farms at Leataata Floyd Elementary will be home to a city-run community garden, Food Literacy Center’s cooking school and student gardens managed by the nonprofit’s program staff. The project will serve the 330 elementary school students enrolled at Leataata Floyd Elementary and their families, students throughout the Sacramento City Unified School District, and community members.

This ambitious and first-of-its-kind project is in partnership with the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD), the City of Sacramento, The Mill at Broadway, which neighbors the school campus, and HMC Architects.

Food Literacy Center currently operates out of a small, rented house which hasn’t allowed for the extensive community involvement they desire for their programming.  “As a young non-profit, we don’t have a ‘center’ where the community can come to us and cook – yet!” said Amber Stott, Founder and Executive Director of Food Literacy Center. The nonprofit currently delivers its hands-on cooking and nutrition classes to students and schools for free.

The new state-of-the-art, green facility being built will include and support:

• Cooking School – Students will learn to cook healthy meals.
• Prep Kitchen – A place for Food Literacy Center staff and volunteers to prep for after school programs across the school district, focused on Title 1 schools.
• Training Space – Food Literacy Center staff will train future instructors of the curriculum and manage the day-to-day operations of the 2.5-acre project that will reach students daily.
• Community Programs – Including family cooking classes, school field trips, and more!

“I’m excited to see the Floyd Farms vision of bringing fresh produce to our local schools becoming a reality in Sacramento,” said Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). “This innovative model will increase children’s access to food literacy programs, which will build healthy eating habits that will benefit our students for years to come.”

Food Literacy Center celebrated the milestone occasion with a groundbreaking presented by Clover Sonoma. Food Literacy Center is also receiving multi-year support from Clover Sonoma, The Mill at Broadway, Setzer Foundation, Sun & Soil Juice Company, and Selland Family Restaurants. The project received additional support from Cobram Estates, FleishmanHillard, Confucius Institute at UC Davis, Visit Sacramento, and Stacey & Galvin Kauffman.

See a video about the project.

ABOUT FOOD LITERACY CENTER

Food Literacy Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) established in 2011 in Sacramento, California, with the mission of inspiring kids to eat their vegetables. The organization provides after school programming to children in Sacramento City Unified School District schools that teaches cooking and nutrition to improve health, economy, and the environment. For more information about Food Literacy Center, visit www.foodliteracycenter.org/.

PARTNER QUOTES

“This health-focused project has been in development since 2012 with partners from The Mill at Broadway, Food Literacy Center, and the City of Sacramento. Today, we’re thrilled to break ground on the Zero Net Energy building, designed with the latest energy efficiency technologies and enough solar energy to offset the building’s annual energy use. Our district is committed to the health of our students and are pleased to bring this important project to life.” – Jorge Aguilar, Superintendent, Sacramento City Unified School District

“We’re so excited to partner with the Food Literacy Center, helping Amber Stott and her team build a cooking school with student run gardens.  We’re proud to help cultivate The Mill’s Urban Farm that not only thousands of local school children will benefit from, but also our Mill at Broadway residents,” Katherine Bardis, Co-Founder & President, Bardis Homes, The Mill at Broadway

“Clover Sonoma is grateful to be able to support the dedicated team behind Floyd Farms at Leataata Floyd Elementary. Food Literacy is perhaps the most important piece of education in our time. In a world increasingly filled with processed food options, we are excited to help bring to life a campus that can help children understand how their food is grown, why it’s important to consume fresh foods, and what nutrients they need to live a healthy life. Clover Sonoma is looking forward to empowering future generations to take control of their health.” Marcus Benedetti, CEO, Clover Sonoma

“Sacramento City Unified School District is working to make school lunch the freshest and most innovative possible while partnering with local farmers, producers and Food Geniuses.” David Edgar, CEC, Executive Chef, Sacramento City Unified School District

“The City of Sacramento is proud of this creative partnership between our Parks department, The Mill at Broadway, Sacramento City Unified School District, and Food Literacy Center. Together, we’re devoting resources to the health of Sacramento students. The site will host the city’s largest community garden plot, offering scholarships to those who cannot afford the annual fee. We’re charting a new course for public-private-nonprofit partnership that benefits the health of our community.” – Steve Hansen, Councilmember, District 4, City of Sacramento

“HMC is proud to provide discounted services for the design of the Floyd Farms cooking school. This unique, zero net energy facility incorporates the latest technology with practical applications for kids. The space will produce its own energy with solar panels, allowing the nonprofit to keep its operating costs low. It has been a privilege working with Amber and her staff at the Food Literacy Center, the Sacramento City Unified School District, and other community partners to bring this project to fruition.” Brian Meyers, Principal, HMC Architects

“Raley’s is committed to growing the next generation of healthy eaters. We’re proud to partner with the Food Literacy Center to help inspire kids to eat their veggies, while supporting the long-term, positive effects on our communities.”  Megan Riggs, Community Coordinator, Raley’s

“Food Literacy Center looks forward to continuing its cooking and nutrition programs through the Floyd Farms project. We will be expanding our programs at Leataata Floyd and throughout the school district. We provide our programs for free, because it ensures that kids have access to learning that’s focused on improving their health. We’re grateful to our partners who have worked for years making this project a reality.” – Amber Stott, Founder & CEO, Food Literacy Center

Floyd Farm Groundbreaking - Press Release 9/18/19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: SIDNEY BURT
(916) 541-2396
Sidney.burt@fleishman.com
September 18, 2019