About Growing Chefs! Ontario
Growing Chefs! Ontario is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to changing the way we learn about and develop healthy relationships with food. The organization was founded in 2005 by Merri Schwartz, a chef who wanted to share her passion for cooking and healthy eating with children. Since then, Growing Chefs! Ontario has grown into a thriving community of chefs, educators, volunteers, and supporters who are committed to promoting food literacy and sustainability.
At the heart of Growing Chefs! Ontario's mission is the belief that everyone should have access to fresh, nutritious food that is grown sustainably. To achieve this goal, the organization offers a range of programs and initiatives that are designed to educate children and adults about where their food comes from, how it is grown, and how it can be prepared in delicious ways.
One of Growing Chefs! Ontario's flagship programs is its Classroom Gardening Project. This program brings together chefs and educators to teach elementary school students about gardening and healthy eating. Over the course of several months, students work with their teachers and volunteer chefs to plant seeds, tend gardens, harvest vegetables, learn recipes using fresh produce they've grown themselves.
Another key initiative offered by Growing Chefs! Ontario is its Community Harvest Program. This program connects local farmers with restaurants in order to promote sustainable agriculture practices while also supporting local businesses. Through this program restaurants receive locally sourced produce which they use in their menus while farmers get an opportunity for direct sales without intermediaries.
In addition to these programs aimed at educating children on healthy eating habits through hands-on experiences like gardening or cooking classes; Growing Chefs! Ontario also offers workshops for adults on topics such as composting or preserving foods so nothing goes waste.
Growing Chefs! Ontario has received numerous awards for its innovative approach towards promoting sustainable agriculture practices while also educating people on healthy eating habits including being named one of Canada's Top 100 Charities by Charity Intelligence Canada multiple times since 2014.
Overall,Growing Chef’s mission statement “Changing the way we learn about & develop healthy relationships with food” truly reflects what they stand for as an organization - promoting sustainability through education & awareness around growing your own produce & making healthier choices when it comes down what you eat every day.