Last year, our agency invested in outside consultation to help us address the critical issues of farmland loss, east Austin displacement and environmental degradation given Austin’s explosive growth. As a result of this 9-month visioning session, and with input from a large number of our...

There’s a new way to get to Sustainable Food Center on bike or foot—the Upper Boggy Creek Hike and Bike Trail!

After more than ten years in the making, a stretch of hike and bike trail that runs alongside SFC’s Teaching Garden and the...

The Texas Legislature, which adjourned last week, delivered multiple wins for local agriculture and the fight against food insecurity. Three of...

As the saying goes, “all politics is local.” That’s why grassroots advocacy is so important.

Last week, we were honored to take part in Local Foods Awareness Day at the Texas Capitol, hosted by our friends at the...

Two SFC-supported bills (SB 1834, HB 3541) working their way through the Texas Legislature would lay the...

In Austin, we are so fortunate to have a large variety of local restaurants to dine at every single week. Our growing city has become a culinary destination for tourists and residents alike. Better still, so many of these local restaurants and chefs are dedicated to supporting our local farmers....

Spring has sprung at the Texas Capitol! The birds are chirping, the peach trees are blooming, and yours truly (Alex Canepa) is sweating buckets in a necktie. One thing we aren’t sweating is S.B. 776, a bill recently filed by state...

As the old adage goes, “everyone does better when everyone does better.” One of the ways that we can do better here in Texas is by ensuring that all of our neighbors can access and afford nourishing food. Here at SFC, we think that “everyone” also includes farmers.

SNAP incentive programs...

Last month we sent four staff members to the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (TOFGA) Conference. TOFGA is a statewide non-profit organization focused on education and advocacy for Texas farmers, ranchers,...

SFC’s agenda for the Texas Legislative session took its first steps last week when two of our top three priority bills were introduced in the Texas Senate...

We believe that sharing healthy food with others brings happiness to us all.

Some of our most cherished memories center around the tradition of sharing a meal with those we love. When we gather together around food, we share stories of our day, talk about our dreams for the future, and...

“I am a mother, and a parent leader at Padron Elementary. So when I first heard about the Farm Stand, I got interested because it is a way that we can bring fresh food, not only to our own families, but to the whole community. This is a resource we can share.” - Yazmin

This Valentine’s Day we are sending our love to… YOU! Because of the support of our incredible community, together we have been able to accomplish so many incredible things this fiscal year. In just the last 6 months, individuals like you have donated over $112,000 to support healthy, local...

Local farmers and ranchers are heading into the 2019 Texas Legislative Session with a hot hand. After winning key victories in the 2018 Farm Bill, we are setting our sights on advancing policies that further sustainable agriculture and food...

“I see myself in my customers,” Michelle expressed, as we wrapped up our third training for the community leaders who work with us as Promotoras and Facilitators for SFC’s Food Access projects.

Our Farm Stands project, as it has grown and...

After months of gridlock, Congress passed Farm Bill. The 2018 Farm Bill represents a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the bill, and includes important wins for local agriculture and nutrition programs. The final bill more closely resembles the Senate version, which SFC joined...

“If you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him… the people who give you their food give you their heart.” - Cesar Chavez

The holiday season is a time to celebrate our friends and family, the gifts we have, and the food we share. We give our thanks to...

I woke up this morning in a panic.

I dreamt it was #GivingTuesday and everyone here at Sustainable Food Center had forgotten about it. No emails were sent, no videos were made, and our social media had gone silent.

After a few ragged breaths, I calmed down and remembered:...

SFC’s Farm Stands, formally known as Fresh For Less Markets under the City of Austin Fresh For Less Initiative, are back in full swing with the start of the new school year!

Our...

Tuesday, October 16 was World Food Day, a day created to honor the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945! This year’s theme is dedicated to making the world a...

This is it. It’s make or break time for the 2018 Farm Bill. Only a few days remain for Congress to finish a new bill or pass a temporary extension of the old one. Either way, farmers and communities are counting on action. What’s at stake?

● Hands-on training and tools for beginning...

We are delighted to welcome new team members to our SFC community!

The Farm Bill is the most important legislation most Americans have never heard of. Passed roughly once every five years, it has a huge impact on farmer...

Pictured: Joy Casnovsky at Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands in Seattle, during the NSAC summer meeting.

The Texas Mamma Jamma Ride is a local non-profit dedicated to helping those facing breast cancer and their families, and we are thrilled to be one of the beneficiaries of this year’s ride.

For many people, Sustainable Food Center may not be...

This might shock you. More than 1/2 of the fresh fruit and nearly 1/3 of the fresh vegetables sold in America today are imported from other countries.

Imported food travels great distances, causing environmental harm from carbon emissions and pollution. By the time it reaches your plate,...

Did you know that only 1 in 10 American children eat enough fruits and vegetables, and one-third are overweight or obese?

Cheap, processed foods lead to obesity and diet-related disease. But if people can’t afford fresh, healthy produce, they can’t buy it.

...

Is your team is kicking off a health initiative, and you want to introduce healthy eating in a fun, approachable way?

Perhaps you are encouraging company camaraderie, and want to boost morale and help your team bond in a welcoming environment.

Or you might just need a break from...

At Sustainable Food Center, we have something for everyone: SFC Farmers’ Markets every weekend for people who want to buy fresh, local produce, cooking and gardening classes for folks looking to learn new skills, and even...

You might have noticed in the past year and a half that we have a new Spanish language version of our website and more bilingual signage at our SFC Farmers’ Markets. These changes...

Twice a year our Grow Local program holds a Resource Giveaway Day through our Spread the Harvest project. Recently, we have begun to provide...

The House of Representatives is poised to vote on the 2018 Farm Bill in the coming days, and folks, this bill is bad. Here’s just a sampling:

• Local food – The House bill abandons local farmers by cutting all funding for several programs...

Last week America lost a populist leader and Austin lost one of our best neighbors and friends.

Susan DeMarco was born to an Italian-American family in New Jersey, where she...

We are thrilled to unveil the new Farm to Work icon!

With roots dating back to 2007, Farm to Work began through a partnership with Sustainable Food Center, the...

Every five years Congress sits down to write what is colloquially referred to as “Farm Bill,” a piece of legislation that governs farm production, rural development, and many nutrition programs....

At Sustainable Food Center, we are working to create a more direct way to thank volunteers for all the time, love, attention, and devotion they give to our three main programs. From Saturday mornings at our...

In early 2014 Alejandra Mireles, a teacher at Ortega Elementary in East Austin, came to SFC with two questions; “Why aren’t we promoting healthful foods through school fundraisers?” and “What can we do about it?”. We put our heads together to consider school nutrition goals and SFC resources,...

The holidays... (is it that time already?!?!) are a wonderful time to spend with the people you love and cherish. They also, however, can be a time of stress, chaos, too much travel and way too much eating and drinking.

It IS possible to enjoy yourself and not feel utterly disgusted by how...

We have said it once and we will say it again, volunteers help make our work possible! Every year volunteers give time, attention, and support to SFC Programs. From work in our office, gardens, farmers’ markets, and in the kitchen, volunteers help lighten the load.

A current rock star...

In mid-September, SFC staff had the opportunity to attend the Hispanic Farmer and Rancher Conference: Growing Together/Creciendo Juntos held in McAllen, Texas. NCAT (National Center for Appropriate...

For Farm to School, the fall is a time of transition. Students are back in the classroom preparing for a semester of growing minds and farmers are back in the fields preparing for a season of growing food. We here at Sustainable Food...

To Our Farmers and Ranchers -

In the aftermath of last week’s hurricane and flooding, we are trying to sort through and make sense of resources that may be important to you, your family and your business.

The poster below from the USDA outlines initial Flood Recovery Assistance...

What can we say? Volunteers make the work we do at SFC possible! At SFC our mission is to cultivate a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food. Volunteers give their time week after week to support this mission. From Fridays in...

Over the past fiscal year (July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017), we have seen growth in a number of meaningful areas. Our partnerships, including collaborations with the health care sector and with organizations outside of the Austin urban core, have expanded. Our...

For the third year in a row, we partnered with our neighbors at Creative Action for some summer camp fun. During two weeks in June, we co-hosted summer camp for kids ages 5-9. Campers made seed-to-plate connections and experimented with new vegetables...

As a nonprofit with a big mission and a narrow budget, we take pride in accomplishing everything we’re able to do at Sustainable Food Center. And if you didn’t know,...

For over twelve years, Andrew Smiley, SFC Deputy Director, has served the local food community through his work with Sustainable Food Center, which is part of a career that spans 25 years, so far. His experiences with food and agriculture, both personal and professional, began early in his life...

Friends of the Earth, Farm Aid, National Family Farm Coalition,...

We are excited to announce the release of our SFC Fotonovela, an educational tool designed with Spanish speakers...

The 85th Texas Legislative Session has been a tough one, with very few of the bills we support getting traction. For a more in-depth description of each bill, read our past blog post, "...

Our Fotonovela is a collaborative effort between Sustainable Food Center, Mama Sana Vibrant Woman, Latino Health Care Forum and...

At this point in the session, any bill that has not at least gotten a committee hearing has no real chance of passing. Only one bill (HB 950/SB 330) that we support has gotten a hearing and we need help getting this bill to the finish line! For additional information about this bill, visit...

Did you know April is National Volunteer Month?

At Sustainable Food Center we rely on the support of our rock star volunteer team!

Volunteers have given a collective 1800+ hours in the past year to support our SFC Farmers’ Markets. Every week about 27 volunteers help keep SFC...

HB 231 / SB 700: Fair Property Taxes for Small Farmers by Representative Eddie Rodriguez & Senator Judith Zaffirini[1]

• Currently, counties make it simple for people raising hay, livestock, or...

Texas Senate Bill 1172 would prevent cities and counties from regulating any seed “in any manner, including planting seed or cultivating plants grown from seed.” The language about “cultivating” means that it’s not just about the seeds themselves, but the things the farmers use to grow the...

We are thrilled to be in our fourth year of partnership with the Junior League of Austin (JLA). This relationship places hard-working Junior League volunteers at our largest outward facing program - SFC Farmers’...

The SFC Double Dollars program is the first of its kind in Texas. This Sustainable Food Center program started at one of our weekly markets in 2012, where we offered a dollar for dollar match for SNAP, WIC and Farmers’ Market...

As 2016 came to a close, we here at Sustainable Food Center reflected on the year behind us and the changes that lie ahead. We are looking forward to a year of renewed resolve as we all come together in our work to grow a sustainable and just local food system that benefits us all.

All...

The holiday season is here, which means it's time to start shopping! But the holidays don't mean you have to fight the frenzy at your local department or grocery store. There are many ways to keep your holiday gatherings, gifts and meals sustainable. Check out these ideas for how you can have a...

Millennials are quickly finding their niche in the agricultural field; whether it be as farmers, communicators, leaders, teachers, motivators. This group of individuals contains the largest cohort who have lived in an almost entirely digital age, while also being the most educated and diverse...

This past Sunday, we held our Annual Appreciation Event at Sustainable Food Center, where we celebrated the support that our incredible facilitators, Farm to School Ambassadors, board members, and volunteers provides us. Despite our different backgrounds, our community was formed through our...

SFC has entered into its second year of partnership with the Texas Episcopal Service Corps. SFC has the pleasure of hosting a fellow for 11 months of service. Texas...

October is National Farm to School Month, a time to celebrate connections happening all over the country between schools and local food!

Farm to school enriches the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education...

Sustainable Food Center is a longtime sponsor of the annual Food and Farm Leadership Conference, and has been involved in Farm to School programming since 2006 with the development of our Sprouting Healthy Kids program. SFC was pleased to announce the availability of Texas Farm...

Another school year is underway for all AISD students and staff, which means another year of Farm to School – and we need your help!

We are very excited about our growing efforts with the AISD Food and Nutrition Services team to help procure and promote healthy, local fruits and...

On March 3, 2016, City Council passed Resolution 20160303-020, which directed the City Manager to 1) develop recommendations for improving access to fresh, healthy and affordable food, and 2) provide a status update on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment, as well as...

“When we acknowledge that racial inequity exists in our community and involves us all, we can strive to ensure that, first, our work does not perpetuate racial inequity, and second, that our work instead helps to build a more racially equitable community.”- Sari Albornoz, Grow Local Program...

September 24, 2016 marks the 8th year of the Mamma Jamma Ride. The Ride raises much needed funds for our agency and eight other local non-profits dedicated to helping Central Texans coping with breast cancer. Some...

Katie Pace

This past Sunday, we celebrated the many amazing people who make our programming possible, from the volunteers who staff our information booths at markets to the ambassadors who bring local food to schools, the interns who assist with summer camps, the facilitators who teach our...

In honor of National Volunteer Week we want to say “thank you” to our volunteer team. With you we have accomplished wonderful things!

April is a big month of activity for us here at SFC. We have a lot of exciting events coming up that you can participate in to help support all of our community programs. From celebrations of local food & beer to a picnic for the kids, we've got something for everyone nearly every week this...

The Sustainable Food Center invites you to participate in The Healthy Community Food Systems training module. This online training course introduces communities to improvements in the way they grow, share, and prepare food.

There is little wide-spread knowledge about the food system and...

SFC’s The Happy Kitchen/La Cocina Alegre® promotes food justice and access to healthy food by training community members to lead classes within their own communities, like Greater Mt. Zion Church, who has hosted classes since 2008. Read on to learn why many participants sign up for our...

Imagine you are a parent desperately wanting to provide healthy food for your family. You must have the time, money, and transportation to purchase food to put on your table at home.

Some of us take these resources for granted, but many of our neighbors experience barriers to buying...

What makes up a great farmers’ market? Farmers, ranchers, fresh veggies, live music, and don’t forget volunteers! About 40% of our volunteer team give their time to support your SFC Farmers’ Markets. With a total of more than 700 volunteer hours in the past year, our market volunteers are a...

From our classes and trainings to Spread the Harvest and the Teaching Garden, all of SFC's Grow Local programs depend on the work, support and insight of volunteers. Each planting season, SFC's Grow Local offers free, introductory food gardening classes at apartment complexes, schools, community...

Blanca Zelaya has been volunteering with SFC for five years. Since we moved into our building two years ago, she has been an active addition as a Kitchen Assistant Volunteer. Read on to learn more about what inspires Blanca to volunteer--

...

The message is simple; the call to action is embedded right there in the logo – Buy Fresh Buy Local Central Texas. Chances are good that you’ll begin spotting this image printed on banners and cards, shared through social media and even popping up on your mobile device very soon. The Buy Fresh...

Food Day falls on October 24th each year, and while we’ll definitely be taking advantage of the opportunity to celebrate real food, we also want families to be able to celebrate real food every day. Just because you’re extra thankful on Thanksgiving doesn’t...

This week, we’d like to share a food story from the neighborhood. In 2014, Kealing Middle School students embarked on a Neighborhood Stories Project (NSP) to get to know long-time residents in the Kealing area. The project started because of the Kealing school garden and its wide-reaching impact...

Here at SFC, we love our work with kids. By promoting Farm to School, cafeteria orders at local schools, we see kids connecting with their food in new and different ways all the time. Sometimes, farmers...

October is National Farm to School Month, a time to celebrate connections happening all over the country between schools and local food!

Farm to school enriches the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education...

The much politicized nutrition standards for school meals are deemed by some to be overreaching and ineffective, while proponents see them as meaningful goals that promote healthy lifestyles. One perspective is that the school lunchroom serves as another classroom on campus, with food and...

Photo sourced from: https://whydyoueatthat.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/day-15-mole-poblano-de-guajolote/

On September 16, 1810 Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a criollo...

Council Member Ora Houston has proposed re-instating the previous rates for Temporary Food Establishment permits. This would more than triple the cost ($35 to $96) to host or participate in a not-for-profit organized or fundraising event with food. Please...

Olivia Cason is beginning her sophomore year at St. Edward’s University and completed a summer internship with SFC as part of a partnership between St. Edward’s and H-E-B. In an earlier blog, Olivia...

September 26, 2015 marks the 7th year of the Mamma Jamma Ride, and for 7 years, Sustainable Food Center has been a beneficiary of this wonderful event. The Ride raises...

We had a wonderful week co-hosting summer camp with our neighbors at Creative Action, and we’re pretty sure the campers had as much fun as we did.

With SFC’s Grow Local and Farm Direct programs, they built trellises in the garden, visited the SFC...

This summer marked our second year of half-day SFC field trips for local summer camps. We hosted 13 field trips (up one from last year!), and we were extra excited to be able to offer additional field trip scholarships this year. This year, seven of the field trips were from camps who serve...

Join us in welcoming Sophie Fitzpatrick to SFC’s The Happy Kitchen/La Cocina Alegre®! It’s been two years since SFC moved into its headquarters in Central East Austin, and given the increase in cooking classes...

For weeks now, the courtyard in front of the SFC office has been abuzz with the fun sounds and sights of kids participating in various summer camps. Some of these camps are visiting us for the half day...

Here at Sustainable Food Center, we know that food inspires and transforms lives. To honor those experiences, we are collecting food stories from folks around the community. In celebration of learning, healing and inspiring, here is Jasmine’s story:

Jasmine grew up in the Northeast with...

...

To all of the graduating students at University of Texas Austin and beyond, we wish you a happy graduation and best wishes on your future plans. We hope you will find a fulfilling next endeavor! For those of you who are interested in a job related to sustainable food systems, we want to...

Our very own SFC Farmers' Market Director, Suzanne Santos, was featured in the Austin-American Statesman. The article explores Suzanne's life, her work, and her passion for sustainability.

Suzanne will be retiring from SFC this year, and we will miss her greatly. If you would like to learn...

Do you know any kids ages 5-9 who are looking for some fun this summer? Send them to camp with us!

SFC and our neighbors, Creative Action, are co-hosting a full week of summer camp from August 3-7, 9 AM to 4:30 PM.

Camp will include all the...

We love seeing you in the kitchen and can’t wait for all the great classes coming up this spring! Remember to bring your punchcards to class with you when you come. What is a punchcard you ask? A punchcard is your ticket to a free cooking class with SFC's The Happy Kitchen*. If your punchcard is...

Here at Sustainable Food Center, we know that food inspires and transforms lives. In the spirit of honoring those experiences, we are collecting food stories from folks around the community. In celebration of spring, fresh vegetables, and new beginnings, here is Justin’s story:

Justin was...

The Happy Kitchen, and SFC as a whole, is truly grateful to have the support of so many wonderful volunteers. Volunteer help staff the farmers’ markets, assist during cooking classes, work in the garden, lead SFC activities at health fairs, and so much more.

One of our recent rock star...

We're pleased to announce an exciting new project being developed by our friends at Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center....

We’re shakin’ and movin’ at our new home for the SFC Farmers’ Market East this Tuesday, March 3rd, to the beat of Choctaw Wildfire, a ‘must see’ Austin trio consisting of piano, upright bass and drums with honky tonk tunes that can...

SFC and our new neighbors, Creative Action, are calling all kids ages 5-9 to join us for a week of summer fun from August 3-7!

Camp will include all the art, drama, and imagination of a Creative Action camp, plus lots of time in the kitchen and...

Access to fresh, healthy food is a basic human right. But for thousands of individuals like Marquel, being able to afford fresh fruits and vegetables is just out of reach.

SFC’s Double Dollar Incentive Program (DDIP) allows families like Marquel’s to visit SFC Farmers’ Markets and double...

As we gear up for another Mamma Jamma Ride on Sept 27, 2014, we wanted to share why it’s so important to us to partner with this amazing organization. The ride raises much needed funds for our agency and nine other local non-profits...

Food Day inspires Americans to change their diets and our food policies. Every October 24th, thousands of events all around the country bring Americans together to celebrate and enjoy real food and to push for improved food policies. This year, as part of Food Day in Austin, the City of Austin’s...

SFC issued the September 2014 Golden Trowel Award to Simone Benz, Community Outreach Coordinator. Simone also serves as Food Sector Manager with the GO! Austin / VAMOS! Austin(GAVA) place-based health initiative, of which SFC is a...

SFC issues its Golden Trowel Award to staff members who "dig deep" to make the mission happen, going above and beyond, exceeding a goal, meeting extreme challenges, or demonstrating our core values in an exemplary way. Ronda Rutledge, SFC Executive Director, first received this award from our...

One of the many perks of having a kitchen of our own is that we can now invite participants in the free six-week community classes to join us at SFC for follow-up classes. On June 25th, we hosted our third knife skills class just for past participants in the series. Unlike the series, these...

Grow Local gardeners spent a recent Saturday morning getting their hands dirty in the SFC Teaching Garden and learning about water conservation techniques for home gardens. Because we are in a drought, water-saving practices are important in every aspect of our daily lives, whether we’re...

Seventeen years ago, Alice Waters took a closer look at the neglected schoolyard she passed every day in Berkeley, California. In an interview in the local newspaper, she remarked that it looked like no one cared about it. The school’s principal, Neil Smith, read these words about Martin Luther...

On Earth Day, SFC celebrated the official Grand Opening of the St. David's Foundation Community Garden and JP's Peace, Love & Happiness Teaching Garden. From a seed of an idea, thanks to the generosity and support of St. David's Foundation, John Paul DeJoria and JP's Peace, Love &...

At this year's Farm to Plate, in The Land of Green, the best-of-the best from Austin’s culinary world will be serving up tastes and samples of creations inspired by the local, seasonal abundance from our farming and...

In the US, the Farm Bill is the primary agricultural and food policy tool of the federal government, and includes legislation on a wide swath of food-related items, including food assistance benefits and subsidies for corporate farmers growing commodity crops. The bill is reviewed, debated and...

Tara Fisher-Muñoz arrived at SFC's grand opening already buzzing with excitement. With infectious enthusiasm, she introduced herself to Grow Local Teaching Garden Coordinator Ellen Orabone, eager to share stories about a new program she's involved in at Wells Branch Elementary. Tara, a parent...

This year saw 642 active volunteers at Sustainable Food Center. That’s right. SIX HUNDRED AND FOURTY TWO volunteers donated their time to being in the office, at the SFC Farmers’ Markets, conducting nutritional demonstrations, and so much more.

How do we recognize these amazing folks? We...

Something powerful happens when women get together in the kitchen. They share resources, skills, and stories, and create something more than just what goes on the table. Recently, facilitators from The Happy Kitchen/La Cocina Alegre® were joined in the SFC kitchen by members of Les Dames...