Transforming School Food Systems through Connection, Collaboration & Community
Conscious Kitchen is hosting California’s Organic Farm-to-School Road Tour this summer, an initiative to connect small and mid-sized organic farms with school districts across the state. With support from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, this effort lays the groundwork for a future in which all 6 million students across the state have access to fresh, local, organic food. It starts with a simple but transformative step: inviting each of California’s 1,019 school districts to purchase at least one organic item in the coming school year. In our experience, what starts with one organic item often grows into a lasting district-wide commitment that ensures the health of students, farm workers, lands, communities, and planet.
Why We’re Hitting the Road
- Strengthen regional farm-to-school ecosystems
- Create pathways for organic farmers to access institutional markets
- Expand school access to nutrient-dense, locally grown organic food
- Increase resilience and equity in our food systems
- Nourish the minds and bodies of our next generation
The Conscious Kitchen team is traveling across the eight regions of California to learn from, spotlight and host regional gatherings with the people and partnerships powering the farm-to-school movement. Each Road Tour stop connects farmers, school food service leaders, policymakers, and community food system stakeholders—laying the foundation for strong, long-term relationships across sectors. At the heart of this work is a clear goal: to nourish and support students by improving the food they eat at school every day. We’re building strong connectivity among local organic farms and school communities to ensure all students have access to fresh, healthy, and nourishing meals.
PROGRAM GOALS
- Connect school food service leaders with local organic farmers
- Identify small and mid-sized farms as “school-ready” sellers
- Capture and share stories of farmers and food service leaders
- Address regional gaps, barriers, and solutions
- Build long-term partnerships across sectors
- Engage next generation food system leaders through hands-on learning
- Expand access to organic school meals for California’s 6 million students
When we come together to transform school food, we grow a future where students thrive alongside farmers, communities, and the planet. Let’s grow this—on the road, together.
Organic farm to school Road Tour Schedule
CDFA Farm to School Map for reference
STOP 1: Bay Area
Gathering: Friday, June 6 at Frog Hollow Farm in Brentwood
Counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma
STOP 2: Central Coast
Gathering: Wednesday, June 18 at Paicines Ranch in Paicines
Counties: Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey
STOP 3: Central
Gathering: Wednesday, June 25 at Full Belly Farm in Guinda
Counties: Yolo, Sacramento, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Alpine
STOP 4: Greater Los Angeles
Gathering: Week of July 14 at LULU Restaurant in Westwood, date TBD
Counties: LA, San Bernardino
STOP 5: South Coast
Gathering: Tuesday, July 15 at Rory’s Place in Ojai
Counties: SLO, Santa Barbara, Ventura
STOP 6: Southern California
Gathering: July 22 at TBD location
Counties: San Diego, Riverside, Imperial
STOP 7: Orange County
Gathering: Thursday, July 24 at The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano
Counties: Orange
STOP 8: San Joaquin + Central
Gathering: Week of September 29 at UC Merced
Counties: Madera, Merced, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Inyo, Kern
STOP 9: Superior
Gathering: Week of October 6th at CSU Chico Regenerative Farm
Counties: Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity
STOP 10: North Coast
Gathering: Tuesday, October 28th in Humboldt
Counties: Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Colusa, Glenn, Butte
STOP 11: Southern California
Gathering: Week of November 10 at Aziz Farms in Coachella Valley
Counties: San Diego, Riverside, Imperial
Join the Movement
Whether you’re a farmer, student, food service buyer, parent, policymaker or community member, there’s a seat for you on this journey. Email us at info@consciouskitchen.org to get involved in this transformative movement!