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.
Program Details
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9-month certificate program (total of 6 classes, 1 volunteer opportunity, and 1 graduation event/ceremony)
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Course completion certificate provided by Orange Home Grown at end of year program celebration
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Students that complete 4 out of the 6 classes in the program are eligible for scholarship award(s)
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Free to selected OUSD students - must complete application and interview process
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Program calendar with class dates/times/location provided to each student upon acceptance into program
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Scholarship recipients selected by Orange Home Grown Foundation Board
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Additional program materials provided during each class
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Program t-shirts and curriculum material distributed first day of class
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Students are responsible for securing their own transportation
Curriculum
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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 megan@orangehomegrown.org for more information.
Thank you to our 2024-2025 Program Partners
Culinary Lab Cooking School
Chapman University Food Science Department
Taqueria Mexico
Snooze Am Eatery Old Towne Orange
The Richland Hotel
Leah Beattie- Laguna Hills Nursery
Aramark/ Anaheim Convention Center
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
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
2024
2025
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 HS
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 - El Modena High School
Makaela Reyes - Orange High School
Matt Reyes - El Modena High School
Mayson Iames - El Modena High School
Michelle Ramirez - Orange High School
Miguel Aguilar - Orange High School
Rosalyn Aguirre - Orange High School
Ryan McLellan - Orange High School
Shannen Thomas - El Modena High School
Yvonne Roberts - El Modena High School
Sophia Andrews - El Modena High School
Lindsay Cunningham - El Modena High School
Hannah Dang - El Modena High School
Isabella Espinoza - El Modena High School
Valerie Gonzalez - El Modena High School
Riley Harlak- El Modena High School
Richard King - El Modena High School
Christopher Lemelin - El Modena High School
Emily Maldonado - El Modena High School
Destiny Martinez - El Modena High School
Nicole Martinez - El Modena High School
Juan Martinez - El Modena High School
Natalie Peterson - El Modena High School
Citlally Salgado - Orange High School
Mia Sanchez - El Modena High School
Andrew Slay - El Modena High School
Diego Soto - Orange High School
Austin Vu - El Modena High School​
