What is Veggie U?

Veggie U, the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization at the Culinary Vegetable Institute is committed to fostering a synergy between educational, nutritional, and agricultural goals to combat the rising epidemic of childhood obesity. Veggie U joined forces with top chefs, some of the area's finest educators, a nutritionist and a local physician to see how we could impact this challenge.

A group of area Master Teachers spent more than 18 months volunteering their free time to formulate a curriculum teaching an Earth to Table™ concept for elementary and special needs students. A classroom garden kit complete with seeds, soil, flats, root view boxes, grow lights and a worm farm gives the teacher needed material for this hands-on study, augmented by the 25-lesson curriculum and instructional DVD. These materials allow the student to see, hear, taste, feel and experience the process of planting, growing and harvesting a crop in their classroom. Best of all - eating the results!