Sierra Harvest is committed to improving the experience and quality of school meals, thus providing more children with the nutrition they need to support academic performance and physical, mental and social well-being. Our services include assistance in sourcing local, pesticide-free foods, professional development for culinary teams, marketing and promotion of fresh ingredients, and advocating for healthier food choices.
“If we provide our students with daily access to fresh, nutritious foods, we will experience the impact of healthier, happier kids who are ready to learn and give back to our community.”
– Aimee Retzler, Executive Director, Sierra Harvest
What’s for lunch at Deer Creek Elementary? Mary’s non-GMO chicken drumstick, whole-wheat California roll, rice pilaf, and a medley of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Getting back to scratch cooking
Sierra Harvest is collaborating with eight school districts in Western Nevada County to bring fresh, scratch-cooked school meals to 7,500 students through a more sustainable model that features local and regional foods and reduces waste. The first step will be a thorough assessment conducted by the Chef Ann Foundation, the nation’s leading nonprofit supporting school districts to help schools create healthier food and redefine lunchroom environments.
Learn more about the collaboration here:
School Food Press Release
Making the Case for Improved School Nutrition
In the News:
Fresh face brings fresh food to school district
(The Union, March 3, 2020)
Organization strives to bring healthy, affordable options to Nevada County students
(The Union, Sept. 20, 2018)