Foodwise Kids

Foodwise offers free nutrition and wellness programs to San Francisco Unified School District students. Foodwise Kids is a program for elementary school classes (grades 1 through 5) that uses the farmers market as a classroom for empowering the next generation of healthy eaters. Through comparative tastings, exploring the market, and a hands-on cooking lesson, we nurture children’s love for fruits and vegetables, teach them to prepare healthy, seasonal foods, and raise their awareness of their role in a sustainable food system.

Since the Foodwise Kids program launched in fall of 2012, more than 20,000 students from local public elementary schools have participated.

Teacher Interest Form

We reach out at the beginning of every school semester to schedule field trips through our pre-existing mailing list. Our fall program usually runs from the beginning of September to December, our spring program runs from mid-January to May, and our summer program runs from mid-June to mid-August.

Due to the high demand for our free Foodwise Kids field trips, we prioritize Title 1 SFUSD public elementary schools (grades 1-5) with higher percentages of BIPOC students and students eligible for free and reduced-priced lunch. If you are a teacher or educator whose class is part of our priority population, and you are not currently part of our mailing list or you did not receive an email with the form to apply, please email Astrid Bonilla at .

If your school is not a Title 1 public elementary school and you want to bring your students for a paid Foodwise Kids field trip, please email us at . This includes private schools, middle schools, and other schools outside of our priority population. Alternatively, you are welcome to plan a self-led farmers market field trip using our free Teaching Resources, which include guidelines, tips, and activity sheets.

What Can Classes Expect?

On a Foodwise Kids field trip, students will:

• Be welcomed to the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market by Foodwise educators
• Learn about seasonal produce and what makes farmers markets special
• Explore the farmers market, meet farmers, and shop in teams together
• Learn about our crop of the month and enjoy a tasting of seasonal produce

We will also continue to offer a series of educational videos that discuss the farmers market, farmers, and the produce they grow is also available for independent learning.

Questions? Please contact us at .

Support Foodwise Kids

Foodwise is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and we rely on your support to offer this program free of charge to public elementary school students. Support the next generation of healthy eaters by volunteering, interning, or donating.

Online Resources for Kids, Families & Schools

Now students and families can experience Foodwise Kids wherever they are! We developed these video resources to supplement our in-person field trips and classes, while extending the experience to students, families, and educators who are not able to visit in person.

Learn More about Foodwise Kids

Read articles, student quotes, and teacher testimonials:

Thank You to Our Current & Previous Institutional Funders

• CDFA
• Whole Foods Foundation