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Youth Food Literacy Program

Teaching food sustainability values to the next generation.

The purpose of the Orange Home Grown Youth Food Literacy Program is to foster a healthier, more sustainable food system and to pass these values on to the next generation. 

 

The Orange Home Grown Youth Food Literacy program, which first began in 2017 takes place in and around the City of Orange and is geared towards providing hands-on learning opportunities to local high school students from the Orange Unified School District. 

 

During this nine-month course junior and seniors in high school engage in the entire food production cycle, from seed to dinner table and beyond. Classes include interaction with local farmers, chefs, catering directors, culinary schools, certified dietitians, food science professors, local non-profits, and more. This course gives them the tools to make powerful choices related to food, their health, and their future.

 

This program also offers opportunities for potential job experience after the program. In addition, scholarships have been provided to each student who has completed the program since 2017.

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Program Details

  • 9-month certificate program (total of 6 classes, 1 volunteer opportunity, and 1 graduation event/ceremony)

  • Course completion certificate provided by Orange Home Grown at end of year program celebration

  • Students that complete 4 out of the 6 classes in the program are eligible for scholarship award(s)

  • Free to selected OUSD students - must complete application and interview process

  • Program calendar with class dates/times/location provided to each student upon acceptance into program

  • Scholarship recipients selected by Orange Home Grown Foundation Board

  • Additional program materials provided during each class

  • Program t-shirts and curriculum material distributed first day of class

  • Students are responsible for securing their own transportation

Curriculum

  • How to select ingredients grown locally, picked at their peak ripeness and flavor that reduce impacts on the environment (reduce carbon footprint)

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  • Regenerative farming practices

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  • Creating healthy relationships with our food “closed loop system”

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  • Understanding how to read food labels and how these ingredients affect our body

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  • Seeing first-hand a successful approach to running a food-based business

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  • Techniques for food preparation and event food service

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  • Hands-on planting, harvesting, and soil prep

Interested in the Youth Food Literacy Program?

If you are interested in applying for the Youth Food Literacy Program, helping to facilitate a course, or donating specifically to this program or its scholarship component, please contact Megan Penn at mpennohg@gmail.com for more information.

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Thank you to our 2023-2024 Program Partners

Culinary Lab Cooking School

Chapman University Food Science Department

Taqueria Mexico

Crema Artisan Bakers

The Richland Hotel

Leah Beattie- Laguna Hills Nursery

Katy Dyer- RDN

O SEA Restaurant

Terrace Hill Olive Oil

Past Program Graduates

2018

Jordan Robles - Orange High School

Ernesto Orozco - El Modena High School

Amanda Tabb - El Modena High School

Leonardo Galvan - El Modena High School

Amberly Rodela - El Modena High School

Jessica Romero - El Modena High School

Amanda Palomo - El Modena High School

Noah Echegaray - El Modena High School

Andrea Martinez - El Modena High School

Claire Gonzalez - El Modena High School

Rebecca Spaziano - El Modena High School

Naomi Spargur - El Modena High School

Paola Leon - El Modena High School

2019

Angel Cruz - Orange High School 

Jaqueline Gonzalez - El Modena High School

Kassandra Valdovinos - El Modena High School

Jaqueline Zuniga - El Modena High School

Vincent Bui - El Modena High School

Benjamin Walton - El Modena High School

Sarah Roberts - El Modena High School

Samantha Nicole Portis - El Modena High School

Maxwell Bui - El Modena High School

Jasmin Alvarez - El Modena High School

Eloi Barajas - El Modena High School

2020

Daisy Fernandez - Orange High School

Jocelyn Valdivia - Orange High School

Jasmin Silva - El Modena High School

Leslie Carrera - El Modena High School

George Mikhail - El Modena High School

Briana Marie Navarro - El Modena High School

Abigail Hernandez - El Modena High School

Monserrat Prado Garcia - El Modena High School

Lauren Vazquez - El Modena High School

Jennifer Gonzales - El Modena High School

Priscilla Gutierrez - El Modena High School

Angelina Horton - El Modena High School

Jasmin Carrera - El Modena High School

Anastasia Rivera - El Modena High School

Landon Rangel - El Modena High School

Elsie Torres - El Modena High School

Lizbeth Garces - El Modena High School

Areli Marroquin Cortez - El Modena High School

2022

Isaac Garcia - El Modena High School

Ruben Bejar - El Modena High School

Jessica Avila - El Modena High School

Ethan De Rosas - El Modena High School

Jennifer Fuentes - El Modena High School

Isela Serna-Velasco - El Modena High School

Lesley Merino - El Modena High School

Angie Gonzalez - El Modena High School

Jessica Dominguez - El Modena High School

Joanna Sanchez - El Modena High School

Evan Bui - El Modena High School

2023

Adrian Reyes Cabezas - Orange High School

Bryan Uriostegui - Orange High School

Isela Serna-Velasco - El Modena High School

Aislyn Duran - El Modena High School

Daisy Villa Vasquez - El Modena High School

Jessica Dominguez - El Modena High School

Angie Gonzalez - El Modena High School

Fatima Soriano - El Modena High School

Reyes Silva-Cruz - El Modena High School

Audrie Gutierrez - Orange High School

Gael Reyes - El Modena High School

Tobias Hernandez - El Modena High School

Andres Benitez De La Cruz - Orange High School

Brianna Aguilar- El Modena High School

Carlos Diaz - El Modena High School

Claire Vaughan - Canyon High School

Cristal Cortez - El Modena High School

Evanee Hernandez - El Modena High School

Grace Wharton - El Modena High School

Irais Rios - El Modena High School

Jade Jacklynn Polee-Holmes - El Modena High School

Jennifer Lopez- El Modena High School

Jocelyn Orozco- El Modena High School

Kathryn Todak - Orange High School

Kimberly Gonzalez- El Modena High School

Lauren Castaneda- El Modena High School

Lesley Mendez- El Modena High School

Lourdes Aguirre-Sanchez (Lulu)- El Modena High School

Makaela Reyes- Orange High School

Matt Reyes- El Modena High School

Mayson Iames- El Modena High School

2024

Our 2023-2024 Graduates

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Help enrich your community

Every donation is used to support the branches of the Orange Home Grown Foundation directly benefiting the Orange community and its surrounding cities.

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