Sierra Harvest

SIERRA HARVEST TRANSFORMS LIVES & STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY THROUGH FRESH, LOCAL, SEASONAL FOOD. WE PROVIDE FARM TO SCHOOL EDUCATION, FARMER TRAINING, INSTITUTIONAL PROCUREMENT SERVICES, GLEANING AND BACKYARD GARDEN PROGRAMS AND COORDINATE THE NEVADA COUNTY FOOD POLICY COUNCIL.

FARM TO SCHOOL: SIERRA HARVEST'S FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY IN 33 NEVADA COUNTY SCHOOLS & REACHES OVER 7,100 STUDENTS (97% OF WESTERN NEVADA COUNTY'S K-8 STUDENTS). IT CONNECTS STUDENTS TO FRESH, LOCAL FOOD THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES IN THEIR SCHOOL GARDENS, ON FARMS, & IN THEIR CAFETERIAS. FARM PARTNERS HOST FARM FIELD TRIPS, PROVIDE 8 WEEKS OF PRODUCE GOBBLED UP BY STUDENTS ON THEIR SCHOOL PRODUCE STAND, & COME TO THE CLASSROOM TO SHARE FARMING STORIES & ACTIVITIES WITH THE KIDS. SIERRA HARVEST ALSO DELIVERS MONTHLY "HARVEST OF THE MONTH" TASTINGS OF LOCAL, SEASONAL FRUITS & VEGETABLES TO CLASSROOMS ALONG WITH EDUCATOR CURRICULUM & A FAMILY NEWSLETTER. "TASTING DAYS" BRING GUEST CHEFS INTO THE CLASSROOM TO COOK SIMPLE, SEASONAL MEALS WITH OVER 2,500 STUDENTS. FOOTHILLS FRESH, SCRATCH COOKED MEALS FOR ALL, IS CHANGING THE WAY STUDENTS EAT AT SCHOOL. MOVING FROM FROZEN, PROCESSED FOODS HEATED & WRAPPED IN PLASTIC TO FRESH FOODS COOKED FROM SCRATCH FEATURING SALAD BARS IS TRANSFORMING NUTRITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS. SIERRA HARVEST HAS SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGED SCHOOL DISTRICTS, DONORS & COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO INVEST FINANCIALLY IN 13 SCHOOL GARDENS TO ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY WHILE CREATING AN OUTDOOR LEARNING LAB FOR TEACHERS. SURVEY DATA INDICATE THAT PARTICIPATING STUDENTS TRY NEW FRUITS & VEGGIES FOR THE FIRST TIME THROUGH HARVEST OF THE MONTH, EAT MORE OF A FRUIT OR VEGGIE AFTER TRYING IT AT SCHOOL, & REPORT THAT THEY SHOP DIRECTLY FROM FARMERS MORE OFTEN.

FARM INSTITUTE: THE FARM INSTITUTE WORKS ALONGSIDE FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO INCREASE SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION. FARM INSTITUTE PROGRAMS BUILD THE PROSPERITY OF ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE PRODUCERS, INCREASE THE LAND IN ORGANIC PRODUCTION, AND TRAIN MORE BEGINNING FARMERS AS THE OLDER GENERATION RETIRES. AGRICULTURAL SKILLS CLASSES TRAIN BEGINNING FARMERS IN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION. THE SIX-WEEK SKILL-BUILDING BUSINESS COURSE, FARM BIZ, LEAVES PARTICIPANTS WITH A CONCRETE BUSINESS PLAN AND FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE THAT IS CRITICAL TO RUNNING A VIABLE FARM BUSINESS. THE LAND MATCH PROGRAM CONNECTS SUSTAINABLE FARMERS AND RANCHERS WITH LOCAL AGRICULTURAL LAND. TO DATE, SIERRA HARVEST HAS TRAINED 136 FARMERS, HELPED 9 FARMS CERTIFY ORGANIC, MATCHED 24 FARMERS TO LOW COST FARM LAND, AND PROVIDED 3,706 HOURS OF EDUCATION. SIERRA HARVEST HOSTS FARM TOURS FOR THE PUBLIC AND SPECIFICALLY INVITES INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS TO INCREASE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE FARMERS. SIERRA HARVEST'S SUSTAINABLE FOOD AND FARM CONFERENCE IS AN ANNUAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE DESIGNED TO EDUCATE AND CONNECT THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE FARMING COMMUNITY. THE CONFERENCE RETURNED TO IN-PERSON FORMAT, OFFERING HANDS-ON SKILL-BUILDING EDUCATION DIRECTLY ON LOCAL FARMS. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN WORKSHOPS FROM INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SPEAKERS, WITH BREAKOUT SESSIONS TO ASK QUESTIONS AND GET ADVICE. 90% OF PARTICIPATING FARMERS/RANCHERS LEARNED INFORMATION THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THEIR CURRENT OR FUTURE FARM BUSINESS.

FOOD LOVE EDUCATIONAL FARM: SIERRA HARVEST'S FOOD LOVE FARM IS DEVOTED TO PROMOTING NUTRITION EDUCATION, FOOD SECURITY, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN GROWING, HARVESTING, EATING, AND CELEBRATING FRESH FOOD. THE FARM HOSTS EXPERIENTIAL FIELD TRIPS, A SUMMER CAMP, SERVICE PROJECTS, U-PICK/FARM STAND, AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER DAYS. THE FOOD LOVE FARM PROVIDED 2,520 HOURS OF HANDS-ON FARM EDUCATION THROUGH SUMMER CAMP TO HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN. THIS YEAR, NEW PARTNERSHIPS WERE DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO OUR SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMING AMONG FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED.