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  • Teaching Children How to Plant a Seed
    by Anthony Geraci · Jan 13, 2010 · SUSTAINABLE FOOD

    Anthony Gerasi is part of Change.org's Changemakers network, comprised of leading voices for social change. Change.org asked Mr. Gerasi to respond to questions to provide context for his work and the causes he supports.

    Change.org: What cause or causes would you most like to promote as a Changemaker and why?

    National Farms to School because teaching a child to plant a seed and watching that seed grow into something that he or she can harvest, cook, and eat forever changes the way a child looks at food. It is no longer about consumption – a more profound lesson is learned.

    Change.org: If you could ask 1 million people to all do 1 thing to advance your cause or causes, what would it be?

    Plant a garden with a child (whether that garden be a flower box on a windowsill or a vegetable garden in the backyard.)

    If I could have two things, the second would be to cook what you planted with that child.

    Change.org: What are the greatest obstacles to change on your issue?

    Sourcing local, fresh food for the school lunch program is not as hard as it may first appear to be. The biggest obstacle is the understanding that it can be done. There needs to be an awareness of local food systems and how to access them. This obstacle can be the greatest opportunity for a community to rally around a common goal – that goal being putting healthy kids in front of educators and ready to learn.

    Change.org: What organizations are doing particularly effective work right now when it comes to your issue(s)?

    • National Farms to School which encourages schools and farmers across America to connect.

    • Public and Private school food service directors who are going out of their way to source locally and who are developing creative and healthy meals for their students.

    • Chefs and cooks who volunteer their time to support our children in identifying career opportunities and a greater awareness and understanding of real food.

    • Children who are willing to take a chance and try something new and fresh.

    Photo credit: John Pavelka

    Read More »
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AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Anthony Geraci

Anthony Geraci is the Director of Food and Nutrition for Baltimore City Public Schools. He recently relocated to Baltimore from New Hampshire where he was the developer and Executive Director of First Course; a culinary training and job placement program for people who are developmentally disabled or recovering from substance abuse or mental illness.

Tony is also a chef, a food service consultant, and the former Food Service Director for the Con-Val School District in southwestern NH. He has been an enthusiastic supporter, practitioner and architect of the National Farm-to-School movement.!

Tony is a native of New Orleans and a third generation restaurateur who did a traditional apprenticeship with four-star hotels and restaurants throughout the U.S. More recently, he has worked with food service directors throughout the country; streamlining their operations for purchasing, introducing local products to their menus, and incorporating vocational training. He was also featured in the film "Angry Moms," a documentary about the national school lunch program. His New Hampshire program was cited as a "Best Practices" example of one of the most innovative approaches to school nutrition in the nation.

Since his arrival in Baltimore this summer Tony has increased the breakfast participation in the schools from 8,500 meals per day to more than 30,000 meals served each day. His department has taken over a city-owned (but abandoned) 33 acre farm which is now being used for vocational training and organic food production for Baltimore City's schools. Tony's focus is on nutrition and vocational training in the hospitality industry for the kids of Baltimore.

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