“Join Thurmond’s Mission: Boosting Organic Food Options in California School Meals” – SCVNews.com

California’s State Superintendent, Tony Thurmond, recently brought together experts in school nutrition and organic farming. They gathered to discuss the “Mission Possible: Go Organic” initiative, aimed at boosting the presence of organic food in school meals.

Thurmond launched this initiative in June 2024 with Conscious Kitchen, urging local schools to embrace the Go Organic Pledge. This pledge is a commitment to gradually introduce more organic ingredients into student meals.

In a recent webinar on February 24, nutrition directors from the Capistrano Unified School District and the West Contra Costa Unified School District shared their success stories. Notably, West Contra Costa Unified now includes 60% organic ingredients in its meals for over 25,000 students in the Bay Area.

Janet Nagamine, owner of Hikari Farms in Watsonville and a medical doctor, also spoke at the webinar. She discussed how her family’s organic farm supplies schools with fresh produce, contributing to efforts against childhood obesity and diabetes.

The California Department of Education encourages schools statewide to take steps towards organic food options. The goal is to ensure every student has access to healthy, fresh meals that support both their well-being and the environment.

You can find a recap of the webinar on the California Department of Education Facebook page.