What Center For Ecoliteracy does

Center for Ecoliteracy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1995 and headquartered in Berkeley, California, that advances the teaching and modeling of sustainable practices in schools, with a programmatic focus on farm-to-school food systems. Its flagship initiative, California Food for California Kids® (a registered trademark, marking its 10-year milestone in 2024), targets California public schools and school districts seeking to increase procurement of California-grown fruits and vegetables, improve school meal nutrition, and connect students with local agriculture. The organization serves school nutrition professionals, early childhood educators, California farmers (with emphasis on BIPOC-owned farms), and school district procurement staff.

Its core "products" are educational content and programmatic resources rather than software: a portfolio of free downloadable publications including the California Flavors / Sabores de California recipe collection (12 plant-forward, culturally diverse recipes co-developed with the Culinary Institute of America), the Nourishing Students early childhood resources (standards-based activities, bilingual learning cards, recipes), the Farm to School Procurement Checklist, the Growing for Schools farmer's guide, the Plant-Forward School Meal Resources, the Digging In farm-to-school activity compendium, and Fresh from California posters. Programming is delivered through recurring virtual event series (Farm to School Innovator Series, School Food Innovator Series) with live Spanish interpretation, supplemented by a website (ecoliteracy.org), an email newsletter, and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads). The organization cites concrete programmatic outcomes including 11 farmer visits to California public schools facilitated in 2022 and a 2021 California Food for California Kids Leadership and Innovation Award.

The business model is a grant-and-donation-funded nonprofit: all resources, events, and publications are provided at no cost to schools, educators, and families. Confirmed institutional funders include the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Office of Farm to Fork (2023 Farm to School Incubator Grant). Strategic co-development partners include the Culinary Institute of America (recipe development), Community Language Cooperative (Spanish interpretation), Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF, California Farm Directory), and CHIP's Farm to Institution Center (procurement guide). Leadership comprises three named staff, with Zenobia Barlow serving as Interim Executive Director following an executive director transition. The organization is independently operated with no parent company and operates solely within California.

Name

Center For Ecoliteracy

Legal name

Center for Ecoliteracy

Website

https://ecoliteracy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Center for Ecoliteracy is a California-based nonprofit that provides free educational resources, recipes, and virtual programming to help schools, early childhood educators, and farmers build sustainable, farm-to-school food systems under its California Food for California Kids® initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Educational Support Services (61171)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD), Food Safety, Sanitation & Healthy Food Environment Programs (EDACAMAM), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO)

Keywords

• School nutrition education
• Farm to school programs
• Sustainable food systems
• Educational resources publishing
• School food procurement

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations: The Center for Ecoliteracy is a nonprofit organization funded through grants from government agencies (USDA, CDFA) and charitable donations. All resources are provided free of charge to schools and educators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Center for Ecoliteracy is a nonprofit organization that develops and distributes free educational resources, guides, recipes, and professional development programs to help California schools implement farm-to-school initiatives, source local produce, and teach sustainable food practices. Its flagship California Food for California Kids® initiative provides practical toolkits, recipe collections, procurement checklists, and virtual events connecting school nutrition professionals with local farmers.

Product overview

Center for Ecoliteracy is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of educational resources, programs, and professional development materials focused on farm-to-school initiatives and sustainable food education in California. The portfolio centers on the California Food for California Kids® initiative and includes practical tools such as the Fresh from California campaign, Nourishing Students early childhood resources, Farm to School Innovator Series virtual events, California Flavors recipe collections, Plant-Forward School Meal Resources, procurement checklists, farmer visit planning guides, and taste testing materials. These products work together to help schools increase local procurement, engage students in food education, and build sustainable school food systems across California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• California Food for California Kids®: Initiative focused on increasing access to California-grown fruits and vegetables in schools through farm to school programs.
• Fresh from California

Products and services

• California Flavors Recipe Collection A collection of 12 plant-forward, culturally diverse recipes for school meals, developed with the Culinary Institute of America, designed to meet USDA nutrition guidelines while featuring California-grown produce. Targeted at school nutrition professionals.
• Fresh from California Campaign A free campaign providing guidance on local procurement and vendor connections to help schools increase access to California-grown fruits and vegetables. Targeted at California schools and school districts.
• Nourishing Students: Early Childhood Education Resources Standards-based classroom activities, bilingual learning cards, and recipes for early learners featuring California-grown fruits and vegetables, including educator guides and family resources. Targeted at early childhood educators.
• Farm to School Innovator Series Virtual event series for school nutrition professionals, farmers, and educators focused on cultivating farm-to-school connections and building resilient school food systems in California, with live Spanish interpretation and on-demand recordings.
• Plant-Forward School Meal Resources Resources including Plant-Forward Cooking Students Love guide, Success with Plant-Forward Meals strategies, promotional posters, and culinary workshop materials for school nutrition programs. Targeted at school nutrition staff.
• Digging In: Farm to School Activities, Case Studies, and Resources Comprehensive publication offering farm-to-school activities, case studies, and practical guidance for implementing farm-to-school programs. Targeted at California schools and educators.
• Growing for Schools / Cultivando para las Escuelas A bilingual farmer's guide exploring new markets for agricultural products in school settings, helping farmers understand farm-to-school opportunities. Targeted at California farmers.
• Farm to School Procurement Checklist Practical checklist supporting school nutrition leaders to source California-grown produce while remaining compliant with procurement requirements. Targeted at school nutrition leaders.
• School Food Innovator Series Virtual quarterly gatherings showcasing innovation in school food leadership across California, fostering peer-to-peer learning for the California Food for California Kids Network. Targeted at school nutrition professionals.
• Plan a Farmer Visit to Your School Comprehensive guide helping schools plan and host successful visits from local fruit and vegetable farmers, with emphasis on BIPOC farmer partnerships. Targeted at schools and educators.
• Taste Testing California Fruits and Vegetables Engaging taste test materials connecting classroom and cafeteria activities for students, educators, and school nutrition professionals. Targeted at students, educators, and school nutrition staff.
• Fresh from California Posters Five downloadable posters featuring California farmers and produce for display in school cafeterias, available in English and Spanish. Targeted at school cafeterias and classrooms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11 farmer visits facilitated to California public schools in 2022
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Culinary Institute of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center for Ecoliteracy collaborated with the Culinary Institute of America to develop the California Flavors recipe collection - 12 new recipes for the future of school meals that are plant-forward, culturally diverse, and meet USDA nutrition guidelines.
• Community Language CooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides live Spanish language interpretation for Farm to School Innovator Series virtual events, enabling bilingual participation.
• Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAFF provides the California Farm Directory and procurement resources that support school districts in connecting with local farmers.
• Community Health Improvement Partner's (CHIP) Farm to Institution CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIP's Farm to Institution Center collaborated with CAFF to develop the California School District Produce Procurement Guide referenced in CEL programming.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Edible Schoolyard Project: Founded by Alice Waters, the Edible Schoolyard Project operates as a nonprofit that integrates gardens and kitchen classrooms into schools. Highly comparable to CEL in mission, school food education focus, and California base.
• FoodCorps: National nonprofit connecting students to healthy food through school-based service members. Comparable to CEL through shared farm-to-school mission, school district partnerships, and free resource distribution model.
• National Farm to School Network: Information and advocacy hub linking schools, farms, and communities. Direct peer as a national-level farm-to-school nonprofit with overlapping policy, network-building, and resource distribution activities.
• Chef Ann Foundation: Nonprofit focused on healthier school food through scratch cooking and plant-forward menus. Comparable to CEL via shared K-12 school nutrition focus, recipe and curriculum resources, and grant-funded nonprofit model.
• Whole Kids Foundation: Whole Foods Market-affiliated nonprofit funding salad bars, gardens, and nutrition education in schools. Comparable as a school-based nutrition education nonprofit with similar school district grant programs.
• Life Lab: California-based nonprofit providing school garden programs, curriculum, and educator training. Highly comparable regional peer operating in the same California school garden and food education space.
• Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF): California nonprofit supporting family farmers and farm-to-school connections through the California Farm Directory. Already a CEL partner, CAFF is a peer in mission and operations around local procurement.

Broad incumbents

• Green Education Foundation: National environmental education nonprofit offering sustainability curricula and school programs. Comparable through K-12 environmental and sustainability education focus, though broader than CEL's food-specific niche.

Others

• USDA Office of Community Food Systems: Federal government program administering farm-to-school grants and technical assistance. Relevant as a primary funder and ecosystem shaper for CEL's work rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Healthy Schools Campaign: National nonprofit advocating for healthy school food and environments. Comparable as a K-12 food and wellness advocacy organization with school district engagement, though broader policy rather than curriculum focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/centerforecoliteracy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-ecoliteracy
• Instagraminstagram.com/center_for_ecoliteracy
• Xx.com/Ecoliteracy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center For Ecoliteracy