FESTIVAL FOUNDERS
The story of the Farm Fresh Festival for Kids begins with WHY. Why a farm in New York City?
We believe in a healthy and happy world for kids. We believe all kids should have access to good and fresh foods.
Susanne Brose created Fresh Kids and the Generation Fresh Foundation in September 2014 on her farm in Hume, Virginia. Susanne wanted to bring the spirit and joy of the farm to all kids, and help kids grow up healthy. So she set out to start a movement to inspire kids to live, eat and think healthy. The movement would help fight childhood obesity, hunger and poor nutrition, by connecting kids to how food grows through gardening and farming programs. Susanne wanted to also raise awareness about food justice and food access, but in a positive way that would delight kids and engage youth. Along the way, Fresh Kids was born – a purpose-driven food company creating clean-label snacks for kids. Fresh Kids donates a percentage of proceeds to non-profit organizations sharing our good foods mission, and also funds the Generation Fresh Foundation, with its purpose to educate children and youth about healthy lifestyles. (Learn more about Fresh Kids start here.)
Fresh Kids Farm in Hume, Virginia with the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Shenandoah National Park in the background.
Susanne headed to New York City to start the movement because she wanted to connect with kids living in the largest food desert in America. New York City also feeds over one million children every day through our nation’s National School Lunch Program. There in the Big Apple, she met Sandra Velez while volunteering for a non-profit organization promoting food literacy in schools. The women shared a dream — to create an event in NYC where all kids can connect with fresh and good foods. And with this idea, they planted the seeds for the Farm Fresh Festival for Kids. Let’s bring the farm to New York City! Because getting kids involved with food is the most powerful way to help them connect with the environment, their health, and their communities. Let’s grow healthy kids and communities together!
So, they set out to meet with organizations, business leaders, public officials, parents, friends and college students, to share the vision for a festival. And over the weeks, together with many generous and creative people, the Farm Fresh Festival for Kids started sprouting. And more people and companies got involved, and the Farm Fresh Festival for Kids blossomed. And on September 17th the Farm Fresh Festival for Kids will bloom into full splendor for the kids and families of NYC.
“Just like a community garden, the Farm Fresh Festival for Kids belongs to the community – it is the spirit of coming and uniting together which makes this Festival grow and bloom. We are so grateful. And we feel very blessed to grow together with a community which cares deeply for the health and wellness of children.”
Sandra & Susanne sharing the Fresh Kids spirit at the Puerto Rican Day Parade NYC 2016
TEAM FRESH
We believe millennials have the power to change the world for the better – this is a purpose-driven generation. The 2016 Generation Fresh College Interns came together in the summer of 2016 to create, grow and launch the Farm Fresh Festival for Kids. Team Fresh was selected to create a free community event to connect kids and families with real foods and how food grows. We believe in good food – and fun – access for ALL kids and families.
For the summer, Team Fresh shared co-working space and community with the Center for Social Innovation, a thriving community of social entrepreneurs, nonprofits, creatives and innovators working across sectors, from farming to finance and everything in between. Team Fresh also collaborated with the creative team of Pollen Brands, a creative and digital design agency which communicates environmentally and socially responsible messages through branding and immersive web experiences.
The Generation Fresh Foundation and Fresh Kids support the work of Team Fresh. To learn more about Fresh Kids, a purpose-driven food company inspiring kids to grow-up healthy, please visit: wearefreshkids.com
Please join our fresh movement, and get involved as a TEAM FRESH VOLUNTEER for the Festival!
Matthew Clark | Manhattan College
What does “bringing the farm to NYC” mean to you?
It doesn’t necessarily mean “bringing the farm to NYC” in a physical sense, it’s more of bringing the importance of farming to NYC. It’s not just to show what a farm looks and feels like but to show where food comes from and how it’s produced. Most kids and a lot of adults who live in NYC may have not had the chance to experience a farm for themselves or even know the sheer volume of food that is actually produced by our farms. It’s important to know how fresh foods are produced and where to find them.
What is a favorite memory of the summer with NYC communities and kids?
We had the opportunity to work with another organization called Popfit Kids this summer. For one of their events at Union Square, I got to go and see what they do in the field and how they’re impacting kids. Their goal is to get kids to be active while having fun, and the event they held in Union Square really showed this. All kids were free to participate, and every kid that did was moving around while smiling and having fun. It was great to see the next generation getting an early start on leading a healthy lifestyle.
What did you learn about working as Team Fresh?
I learned that a lot of people want to eat healthier, but don’t know where to start. Many people want to have healthier food but it’s much more convenient for them to run to a fast food restaurant for a meal because they don’t know where to find better options. There are good foods out there, people just need to know where to find it.
What is an act of kindness that everyone can give to inspire kids to grow up healthy?
The act of kindness that everyone can give is less of a single act, it would be to lead by example. We should all try our best to lead a healthy lifestyle so that we can pass that lifestyle on to kids and teach them how to live healthy.
Stephanie Ellis | Babson College
What does “bringing the farm to NYC” mean to you?
To me, bringing the farm to NYC means a lot. It gives kids growing up the opportunity to engage with their food and learn about it in an interactive hands on environment. Not only is bringing the farm to the city good for kids, but parents can learn more about their kids and food as well. This is important because once someone is able to see where their food comes from there is greater respect and appreciation for it and for the environment from which it comes from.
What is a favorite memory of the summer with NYC communities and kids?
I really enjoyed going to the Bo Porter Recreation Center! Even though I had a bit of trouble getting there, the kids made the trip worth it. All the kids were very excited that we were there giving out snacks and after giving out the snacks, I started coloring with them and we had a lot of fun. It is great to give out healthy snacks and get to connect with kids.
What did you learn about working as Team Fresh?
I learned a lot as a Team Fresh member and still have a lot to learn! Out of everything I learned my biggest take away would be to go after my dreams and that it is possible to do what you love, give back to the community, and still have a successful business.
What is an act of kindness that everyone can give to inspire kids to grow up healthy?
Everyone should encourage kids to go after their dreams and do what makes them happy.
Alessa Pomerantz | New York University
What does “bringing the farm to NYC” mean to you?
Bringing the farm to NYC” means giving people the opportunity to experience things they might not have ever experienced before. We want this festival to be something NYC has never seen before, but in a way, this is the most “NYC thing” to happen. The beauty about NYC is that you never know what you’re going to find when you walk one block over, it is rarely surprising, but it is always exciting.
What is a favorite memory of the summer with NYC communities and kids?
My favorite memory of the summer was when we visited Newark’s Bo Porter Sports Complex. We gave kids snacks, colored vegetable sheets with them, and ran through the water sprinklers. It was such a fun day. As we were packing up to go, a little girl ran up to me and hugged my legs and said ‘I’m going to miss you!’ I wanted to stay too.
What did you learn about working as Team Fresh?
I have learned how difficult it is to plan a festival and how much work goes into it! I have also learned the importance and beauty of working for a company that values giving back to their community. It has been amazing getting to experience different organizations in the NYC area, and being able to teach kids about healthy eating.
What is an act of kindness that everyone can give to inspire kids to grow up healthy?
Quality time spent with a child makes a world of a difference to them. When you take the time to play with kids, teach them, and learn from them, it shows the child that you care, and that will stay with them forever. Spread positivity and it will continue to grow.
Shari Stiell-Quashie | Alum, Bard College
What does “bringing the farm to NYC” mean to you?
Bringing the Farm to NYC means giving kids a taste of something they don’t get to see often.
What is a favorite memory of the summer with NYC communities and kids?
My favorite memory of the summer is attending the grand opening of Bo Porter Recreation Center in Newark, NJ and interacting with all the kids attending the Bo Porter summer camp.
What did you learn about working as Team Fresh?
I’ve learned that teamwork makes the dream work! Without a strong team, it’s difficult to produce great work.
What is an act of kindness that everyone can give to inspire kids to grow up healthy?
An act of kindness that everyone can do is to teach kids about different foods, what their areas offer, and how they can maximize that offering. We should help kids live with open minds as well as a thorough understanding of what being “healthy” really means.
Joya Widney | Parson School of Design
What does “bringing the farm to NYC” mean to you?
Surrounding the kids with fresh air, fresh foods and lots of fun!
What is a favorite memory of the summer with NYC communities and kids?
I loved going to Newark and running around in sprinklers with the kids.
What did you learn about while working as Team Fresh?
I learned appreciation for anyone crazy enough to put together such a huge festival!
What is an act of kindness that everyone can give to inspire kids to grow up healthy?
Donate your compost to a local community garden!