Imagine you’re back in your old elementary school cafeteria, except instead of the boxed mac and cheese and powdered eggs on the line there’s ribs, collard greens, curry, and rice and beans. How would your life be different? What would your relationship with food be like? City Fresh is making these options a reality for children, students, and seniors in Boston every day.
Few companies so deeply represent the mission of BostonLocalFoodFestival the way City Fresh does. City Fresh, which delivers over 8,000 healthy meals a day, is a living representation of the BLFF mission “Increase the availability and access of healthy local food to urban communities” and they’re always looking to make themselves better. In 1994 this innovative company was born when it started delivering fresh, ethnic lunches to local communities with a small kitchen and a van. They have since moved into a much larger space and deliver meals all over Boston.
It was inspiring to find a company in our area that is so dedicated to delivering healthy meals to those in need. I was thrilled to learn that CityFresh has been serving lunches to daycares, schools and even after-school programs for a little over a decade. Anyone who grew up with a cafeteria knows that healthy options can be slim pickings and I know if I had a child I’d want them to have plenty of options. The lunches are discussed with the schools themselves to make sure that the options and diverse tastes of each school’s needs are met.
City Fresh’s passion for good food and their community only seems to grow with time as they push to open new jobs and support local farms and businesses. CEO Glynn Lloyd was quoted in Food Service East as having a passion for “Urban Agriculture” and an interest in providing “farm to school” meal options that include seasonal ingredients. When still palates are not pleased, City Fresh uses innovative thinking and the resources at hand to build a better product. In the past they’ve held in-house competitions to make a more delicious pizza and created a healthier chicken nugget by asking for a no additives, whole muscle meat chicken.
And so City Fresh seems to have found a formula for success that benefits not only themselves, but the community as well. When you see them at this year’s Boston Local Food Festival, send a little love back and try some great food.
This post was written by Veronica Thompson of Foodie By Night, go check her out!