Stories of Innovation

With each connection we make in fields, kitchens, and cafeterias, we’re finding new ways for local, nutritious, and relevant food to reach more students in our communities. We’re sharing the stories behind our strategies and early successes to inform and inspire school food system leaders here and everywhere — and show what is possible when we all work together.

Learn more about our grantees and our upcoming grant opportunities.

Wisconsin School Food Transformation Advisory Committee

What if we could transform school lunches, making them both appealing and nutritious for students? The Wisconsin School Food Transformation Advisory Committee, a passionate group of 13 leaders, is doing precisely that by connecting local farmers, nonprofit organizations and school food professionals with funding opportunities. Together they are fostering innovation, collaboration and local leadership to ensure Wisconsin’s children have access to healthy meals. Discover how they are changing and shaping a brighter future for our children in this inspiring story.

Project Gallery

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Two trays of seedling in cups
A teacher presenting a slide to a class
Four people at a long table, looking at the camera
A Hmong lunch in a tray- an orange, rice, chicken and greens
man presenting a slide
smiling men, holding watermelon
Childs hands filling out a taste test
group of people standing in under-construction space
vegetables growing in raised beds
Students sitting at round tables listening to teacher
Student writing name on cup
Caption goes here
Twisted Kitchen
Food service worker handing tray of food to kid in cafeteria.
Tray of lunch including burger, fries, apple and packets of condiments.
people in large greenhouse
three people in front of hydroponic garden
two people talking in the greenhouse
woman presenting in the greenhouse
man in front of a hydroponic garden
group of people smiling at the camera
large bags of corn on a wooden palatte in a warehouse
corn in a freezer
the cows eating corn cobs
“Workshops to Expand Local Purchasing in Schools” – ValleyHUB at Kalamazoo Valley Community College
“Workshops to Expand Local Purchasing in Schools” Kalamazoo Valley Community College
“Workshops to Expand Local Purchasing in Schools” Kalamazoo Valley Community College
“Introducing Hmong Cultural Food to the School System” – “Introducing Hmong Cultural Food to the School System” NEW Hmong Professionals
“Introducing Hmong Cultural Food to the School System” – NEW Hmong Professionals
“Buy Local, Cook Fresh Illinois” – Beyond Green Partners
“Buy Local, Cook Fresh Illinois” – Beyond Green Partners
“Growing Minds: Engaging Students in Building the Future of their Food System” – Madison Consolidated Schools
“Growing Minds: Engaging Students in Building the Future of their Food System” – Madison Consolidated Schools
“Growing Minds: Engaging Students in Building the Future of their Food System” – Madison Consolidated Schools
“Growing Minds: Engaging Students in Building the Future of their Food System” – Madison Consolidated Schools
“Growing Minds: Engaging Students in Building the Future of their Food System” – Madison Consolidated Schools
“Buy Local, Cook Fresh Illinois” – Beyond Green Partners
“Lowering Adoption Barrier to Regionally Sourced Foods in Chicagoland Schools: Exploring Manufacturing, Food Service Operations and Acceptability of Regional Black Bean and Beef Blended Products in School Cafeterias” – The Common Market Great Lakes
“Lowering Adoption Barrier to Regionally Sourced Foods in Chicagoland Schools: Exploring Manufacturing, Food Service Operations and Acceptability of Regional Black Bean and Beef Blended Products in School Cafeterias” – The Common Market Great Lakes
WI Farm to School Celebration, Stevens Point
WI Farm to School Celebration, Stevens Point
WI Farm to School Celebration, Stevens Point
WI Farm to School Celebration, Stevens Point
“Introducing Hmong Cultural Food to the School System” NEW Hmong Professionals
“Introducing Hmong Cultural Food to the School System” NEW Hmong Professionals
“Planting Farm2School in Southeastern Illinois” Greater Wabash Food Council
“Planting Farm2School in Southeastern Illinois” Greater Wabash Food Council
“Planting Farm2School in Southeastern Illinois” Greater Wabash Food Council
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“Workshops to Expand Local Purchasing in Schools” – ValleyHUB at Kalamazoo Valley Community College
“Workshops to Expand Local Purchasing in Schools” Kalamazoo Valley Community College
“Workshops to Expand Local Purchasing in Schools” Kalamazoo Valley Community College
“Introducing Hmong Cultural Food to the School System” – “Introducing Hmong Cultural Food to the School System” NEW Hmong Professionals
“Introducing Hmong Cultural Food to the School System” – NEW Hmong Professionals
“Buy Local, Cook Fresh Illinois” – Beyond Green Partners
“Buy Local, Cook Fresh Illinois” – Beyond Green Partners
“Growing Minds: Engaging Students in Building the Future of their Food System” – Madison Consolidated Schools
“Growing Minds: Engaging Students in Building the Future of their Food System” – Madison Consolidated Schools
“Growing Minds: Engaging Students in Building the Future of their Food System” – Madison Consolidated Schools
“Growing Minds: Engaging Students in Building the Future of their Food System” – Madison Consolidated Schools
“Growing Minds: Engaging Students in Building the Future of their Food System” – Madison Consolidated Schools
“Buy Local, Cook Fresh Illinois” – Beyond Green Partners
“Lowering Adoption Barrier to Regionally Sourced Foods in Chicagoland Schools: Exploring Manufacturing, Food Service Operations and Acceptability of Regional Black Bean and Beef Blended Products in School Cafeterias” – The Common Market Great Lakes
“Lowering Adoption Barrier to Regionally Sourced Foods in Chicagoland Schools: Exploring Manufacturing, Food Service Operations and Acceptability of Regional Black Bean and Beef Blended Products in School Cafeterias” – The Common Market Great Lakes
WI Farm to School Celebration, Stevens Point
WI Farm to School Celebration, Stevens Point
WI Farm to School Celebration, Stevens Point
WI Farm to School Celebration, Stevens Point
“Introducing Hmong Cultural Food to the School System” NEW Hmong Professionals
“Introducing Hmong Cultural Food to the School System” NEW Hmong Professionals
“Planting Farm2School in Southeastern Illinois” Greater Wabash Food Council
“Planting Farm2School in Southeastern Illinois” Greater Wabash Food Council
“Planting Farm2School in Southeastern Illinois” Greater Wabash Food Council
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