By Colin Cureton and Elizabeth Vaughan, CHIP Food Systems Team White canopies draped with burlap cloth, dozens of farmers standing by proud displays of produce, and people in sunhats smiling wide and admiring brightly colored fruits and vegetables; welcome to the third annual Let’s Go Local! Produce Showcase! This year’s Showcase, held on October 23, [...]
By Colin Cureton, CHIP Food Systems Director Just over a week from today, dozens of San Diego County farms, produce distributors, sustainable businesses, and food systems advocates will all be showing up in a field in Encinitas, CA. Why would such an interesting (and busy!) group of people do such a thing? Well, because coming [...]
By Colin Cureton, CHIP Food Systems Director The California Thursdays program of the Center for Ecoliteracy is changing the culture and practice of school food. This year, CHIP is partnering with Center for Ecoliteracy expand participation in the program by San Diego County schools districts. This Thursday and Friday (Oct. 8th and 9th) we have been honored [...]
By Elizabeth Vaughan, CHIP Food Systems Coordinator This is a story about the success of an up-and-coming Southern California farm in selling their fresh, local, and sustainable produce to schools, and CHIP’s efforts to get them on the path to success. CHIP has spent years working 1-on-1 with farms across Southern California to build the [...]
By Colin Cureton, CHIP Food Systems Director This summer, CHIP’s food systems team reached out to hundreds of San Diego County farmers as part of its broader work to build the institutional market for healthy, fresh, local produce. The goal of this engagement was multi-faceted and included market research to create CHIP’s 2015 Crop Availability [...]
By Colin Cureton, CHIP Food Systems Director In July of 2015, CHIP facilitated farm-to-school visioning sessions at Vista Unified School District (VUSD) and Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD). The goal of these sessions was to invite stakeholders from across the district and community into the planning process and ask, "What do you want farm-to-school [...]
By Elizabeth Vaughan, CHIP Food Systems Coordinator Community Health Improvement Partners held their 3rd Annual Brew Rendezvous on May 17, 2015 at SILO in Makers Quarter. Brew Rendezvous celebrates the unique role of local growers, craft brewers and restaurateurs in cultivating community and health. While attendees got plenty face-to-face interaction with participating restaurants and breweries, [...]
By Elizabeth Vaughan, CHIP Food Systems Coordinator You've probably heard about school food in the news. But what you don't hear much about is the complicated bid process and procurement regulations districts navigate in order to get healthy, fresh meals into the cafeteria everyday. CHIP is supporting Child Nutrition Services staff in school districts across [...]
