Roberto Meza doesn't need to close his eyes to visualize a changing food system anymore, he's watching it happen week to week. The latest evidence: 6,000 containers of microgreens delivered to the Aurora Public School District for their "Farm Fresh Fridays" program.
"That is awesome," Meza said. "What once was just a garnish in upscale fine dining is now replacing lettuce for students. They get way more nutrition and crunch and flavor. Now I know that's possible. The goal is to replicate it."
When Meza talks about changing the food system, he really means the whole system, including government subsidies that drive prices and guide institutional decision-making. Decisions like what schools are going to feed students.
The Colorado Sun first visited Meza and his cofounder, David Demerling, five years ago, as the two fresh-eyed, first-generation farmers were gaining traction with their microgreen farm, Emerald Gardens. Then the pandemic ripped through the restaurant industry. Until that point, Emerald Gardens was sustained by the food industry, so Meza and Demerling shifted their focus. They'd always had an eye on social justice and food equity, but the sudden vulnerability kicked them into high gear.
Read more at coloradosun.com