What is Farm 2 Cafeteria?
Farm 2 Cafeteria is a student-led program that focuses on bringing local organic produce to schools in the form of a salad. F2C began in August of 2021 with field trips to Esperanza Community Farms, where students planned and designed the program. During the Summer of 2022, student leaders served over 400 salads to summer school students at Pajaro Valley High School. Now, students lead in chopping and preparing the salads to be served to their peers during lunch at PV.
This bilingual film showcases Pajaro Valley Unified School District and the power of youth leadership in the Farm-To-School movement.
The short film Farm to School premiered at the 2023 Watsonville Film Festival. It was co-produced with Esperanza Community Farms and directed by Inspira Studios.
Through our California Food for California Kids® initiative, the Center for Ecoliteracy supports school districts like Pajaro Valley Unified in serving fresh, locally-grown school meals. We are grateful for this community’s support and engagement, especially for the involvement of the committed students featured in the film.
Harvest Delights: Highlights of the 2023 Season
The 2023 season was an outstanding success! Our dedicated team delivered a total of 315 salads, serving 70 wholesome salads per week at the high school. Here you can read our 2023 Report. It’s a testament to our commitment to providing nutritious and delicious options for the school community.
Nurturing Growth: Photos from the 2024 and 2025 Seasons
This year’s Farm to Cafeteria program brought a refreshing twist—smoothies! Students were asking for them, and we made it happen by blending repurposed bananas, mandarins from Arshdeep, and strawberries from Maria and Rigoberto. The result? A student-approved drink that reduces food waste, supports local farmers, and builds a stronger, more sustainable food system.
Nurturing Growth: Photos from the 2021 and 2022 Seasons
Here’s to a season filled with fresh flavors and healthy choices, learn or listen more about F2C
Listen up.
Climate, Food, & Justice: Farm to School Cafeteria Project in Watsonville, CA
A podcast about a partnership between Esperanza Community Farms and Pajaro Valley High School with Alma Leonor-Sanchez, Jesus Basulto, Karla Leyva.
Great Guest Quote:
“A lot of people think that climate change and food justice, they’re problems that are out of our league. But change can be made anywhere, and you have to start.” – Karla Leyva