The Chez Panisse Foundation is committed to transforming public education by using food traditions to teach, nurture, and empower young people. The foundation envisions a curriculum, integrated with the school lunch service, in which growing, cooking and sharing food at the table give students the knowledge and values to build a humane and sustainable future. We support programs that move food to the core of a curriculum that deepens the academic and social experiences of the young. Where such a curriculum is in place, students, teachers and the entire school community have been transformed; for some struggling students, it is the door to a new and successful way of learning. Planting and tending an organic garden; harvesting, preparing and cooking food; sharing conversation over a freshly prepared meal - these experiences awaken the senses, enliven the classroom, model environmental responsibility, promote good health, and build community bonds.