Every year for the holidays, we choose an organization whose mission aligns with our own and give a gift on behalf of our clients. This year, in the spirit of caring, we’ve donated to three organizations around the country that together, create a full circle of care.
Honoring U of Pacific’s Top GOAT: Sia Mohsenzadegan
Not everyone gets a poem written for them in honor of their retirement, but not everyone is Sia Mohsenzadegan, resident district manager of Bon Appétit at the University of the Pacific (U of P) in Stockton, CA. Sia has been with Bon Appétit for 33 years, and with U of P for 21 of those years.
Exploring Indigenous Food Sovereignty
Indigenous people have been working in harmony with the land in North America for millennia. To preserve these distinct food traditions and the cultures, customs, and languages they represent, Native American advocacy organizations are working towards a self-determined and decolonized food system known as Indigenous food sovereignty.
Bon Appétit Teams Help Wishes Come True in Oregon
This fall, teams from Willamette University and Lewis & Clark College joined the Oregon chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation for the Foundation’s Fall Festival. From pumpkin decorating to crown-making and games, magic was made at this community-building event.
Saving Seeds: Honoring Indigenous Farming Practices
Every November, Bon Appétit Management Company takes the time to reflect on the rich cultural heritage of Native Americans, whose deep ties to the land have cultivated traditional knowledge systems over centuries. Indigenous farming practices are an essential part of the cumulative wisdom that has been passed down over generations. These agricultural customs not only ensure the survival of important crops, but a connection to rituals, food traditions, ancestors, and the surrounding ecosystem.
Featuring Our Fin-tastic Fish to Fork Partners
Each year, National Seafood Month is a time to affirm our ongoing commitment to sourcing seafood sustainably and to our partners who make that a reality in our cafés across the country. In addition to aligning with Seafood Watch guidelines, we encourage our chefs to seek out sustainable seafood that’s locally caught or raised.
Shining a Light on Seafood Superstars on our College Campuses
Our chefs on college campuses around the country have the unique responsibility to expand the minds and palates of an emerging generation, and an opportunity to educate students about the importance (and deliciousness) of sustainably sourced seafood options, both wild-caught or farmed, that are served in their campus cafés.
Savoring our Commitment to Fair Trade Tea
Our partner, Numi, provides us with assorted herbal and caffeinated Fair Trade Certified teas, ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and community development premiums to support health, education, and infrastructure projects. They work closely with farm partners around the world, sourcing 130+ organic ingredients from more than 34 countries, guaranteeing traceable ingredients and positive outcomes for tea workers and their communities.
Fished or Farmed: A Q&A Deep Dive with Seafood Watch
Bon Appétit Management Company has long relied on Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch guidelines to inform our sustainable seafood purchasing. The Seafood Watch program scientifically assesses the environmental sustainability of seafood products on the U.S. market and then uses those findings to transform how seafood is fished and farmed. Commitments like ours at Bon Appétit — and our chefs’ efforts to put those promises into action — help push the needle on seafood sustainability so that people and planet can thrive for the long term.
Eight Ways Corn is Used Across Latin America
Throughout Central and South America, we can find corn as a foundational food in many diverse cuisines, revealing its impressive versatility and cross-cultural importance over time. Here are eight different traditional dishes showing the breadth of corn, from a savory staple to a sweet treat!