FAIRFIELD, CA - Armijo High School students have successfully completed the Healthy Local Food Program, a four-month program that was designed to teach students about healthy, seasonal, local food through culinary skills, cooking with local produce, and understanding our relationship to food by spending time in the school garden.
On May 6th, 30 students gathered in the school library for "Celebrating Healthy Local Food: A Culinary and Garden Showcase," where they presented their multimedia projects. Their projects highlighted the importance of growing, cooking, and eating healthy food along with the importance of using local food. Visitors had the opportunity to tour Armijo’s school garden, Jardin de Esperanza, and learn how the garden uses sustainable practices to grow food for the community and create a welcoming space for students.
Throughout the program, students had the opportunity to connect with food through time in the garden, cooking classes, and a field trip to Wilkinson Acres, a family-owned farm in Fairfield. With guidance from the school's Multimedia Academy, students created multimedia campaigns that include videos, interviews, podcasts, blogs, and more.
Armijo High School's Garden Club Advisor and teacher Sylvia Herrera expressed her pride in the students' work in the Healthy Local Food Program stating, "It's inspiring to see our students so passionate about healthy and local food. The program not only taught them important culinary skills and the benefits of sustainable gardening, but it also gave them a platform to express their creativity and share their message with the community. I am incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication."