At Bon Appétit we recognize the great power and importance of food. Food brings people together, creates a sense of place and a feeling of kinship. Food sustains not only our bodies but also our communities and environment. We care about what you eat and its effect on your sense of well being. We work hard to provide you with food that is fresh, seasonal and minimally processed. Fruits and vegetables purchased whole and naturally ripe contain the most nutrients and simply taste better. Meat, poultry and milk produced without antibiotics or growth hormones are better for your body. We strive to give organic and healthful options. The effects of our choices extend well beyond the walls of our cafés. We choose to invest in our communities by buying millions of dollars worth of products each year from local farmers and artisans. Purchasing directly from the producers allows us to support sustainable farming practices that nourish and replenish the local land rather than striping it. And, we can be sure that the profits are kept with the local grower, not a distant importer, and therefore reinvested into the community. Still, the capacity of our planet is not limitless. We are very mindful of the impact we are making on our environment. We only serve seafood purchased in accordance with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch guidelines for sustainability. We reduce waste through recycling and are also making strides in the areas of composting and biodegradable disposables. Our intention is to tread lightly on our planet.

Working in Schools

The Healthy Schools Project falls within the Funding Priority Area for Child/Adolescent Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Projects. Childhood obesity is on the rise, particularly among Latino and African-American children. Obese children face increased risk for diseases such as hypertension, cancer, diabetes and heart disease. The Healthy Schools Project is designed to promote healthy nutritional behaviors and to teach students how to make healthy choices now and throughout their lives. The program consists of sequential nutrition education, garden-enhanced nutrition education, and a school salad bar lunch program. Through this integrated education in the classroom, in the lunchroom and beyond, the child is empowered to make thoughtful choices. Inclusion of the farm fresh salad bar gives each child the opportunity to practice decision-making and to develop healthy habits for a lifetime. Children learn about food primarily by eating it. The Healthy Schools Project incorparates regular classroom “taste testing”, and visits by local farmers, chefs, and other health professionals to expose students nutrition and healthy life styles. The Healthy Schools Project began as collaboration between Community Alliance with Family Farmers, the Juanamaria Elementary PTA, and the Ventura Unified School District (CNS), with support from numerous community-based organizations. It has grown to serve seven elementary schools. With continued support, we hope to create a model for other districts and communities to follow.

Partnership: VUSD has made a commitment to purchase from the Growers Collaborative at all school sites in the district and has used its food dollar to support Farm-to-School programs in collaboration with CAFF since 2004.