K-12 schools are some of the most important institutions in a community, and also present a real opportunity for impactful sustainability initiatives. As a leader in providing sustainability support for K-12 schools, Seven Generations Ahead (SGA) has had a front seat to this growing trend. Around the greater Chicago area, and indeed the country, school […]
Farmers and School Buyers Connect at Eve...
Where better to connect local farms to schools that want to source local food than at the Illinois Farm Bureau’s Everything Local Conference? It took place January 17th – 19th this year in Springfield, and featured keynote speaker Chef Rick Bayless. But Illinois Farm to School Network’s program manager, Diane Chapeta, wasn’t there for the […]
Lake Michigan School Food System Innovat...
Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub Launches in Illinois to Fuel Change for Our Region’s School Food System Application opens on February 1; interested grant applicants can now register for launch event [Oak Park, Illinois], Jan. 11, 2024 — Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub announced today that it will open funding opportunities […]
Farm to School Success Story Shows Why D...
Local food procurement for school districts in Illinois just got easier, to the tune of $7.3 million. The USDA’s Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) is providing this funding to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to distribute to school districts across the state. According to ISBE’s website: “The goal of LFS […]
We’re Going Big For Great Apple Crunch 2
Photo courtesy of Healthy Lombard The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder. Kids are heading back to school, and fall is in the air! We know pumpkins get a lot of love this time of year, but we’ve got our eyes on all those crisp, juicy apples at the farmer’s market. We’ve […]
Welcome, our new Farm to School Intern!
Seven Generations Ahead is thrilled to welcome Siobhan Pesce to part of the team as part of the Tyson Foods Summer Community Internship Program. Siobhan will be working with our Farm to School program manager, Diane Chapeta, on work related to the Illinois Farm to School Network. Through the program, full-time college students receive a […]
Illinois Farm to School Coalition Bridge...
Seven Generations Ahead and the Illinois Farm to School Network are pleased to announce the formation of a new working group, the Illinois Farm to School Coalition. The coalition will engage in critical work to advance farm to school programs throughout Illinois, bringing healthier meals to school children, strengthening local economies and food systems, and […]
Gourmet Gorilla Brings the Farm to the C...
Gourmet Gorilla is a Chicago-based food service provider that creates local, sustainable meals for early childhood centers, K-12 schools, and other institutions. The company focuses on making healthy, nutritious meals that kids will love, with ingredients sourced primarily from around the Midwest. They have a unique procurement process that prioritizes relationships with local farms for […]
It’s Fall, and That Means Apple Crunch S
It’s that time of year again. The air is getting cooler, the trees are just beginning to show patches of red, yellow, and orange, and the apples are crisp and juicy. With the magic of fall also comes the joy of the Illinois Great Apple Crunch! The Great Apple Crunch is a celebration of fresh […]
Mooseheart School HOTM program sows seed...
At Mooseheart Child & City School, the young residents and the adults who care for them take the Illinois Harvest of the Month program to heart. From cabbage to Brussels sprouts, all kinds of vegetables end up on the menu at the Kane County residential childcare campus. And that’s not by accident. Mary Zupke, the […]