Feeding the Future, a fundraising and educational event hosted by Blue Watermelon Project, was created to help students develop tasty, nutritious, and affordable school meals that can be served to Arizona school children. Participation in this contest helps students and the surrounding community better understand the challenges that school food professionals face and the ever-changing conditions that impact access to good food.

This year, 12 teams from eight school districts across the Valley will work with local chefs and school food professionals to create inventive and nutritious dishes they will serve at the event. Attendees join in the fun by tasting the creative dishes of the student teams that are also presented to guest judges. While the judges deliberate, attendees can enjoy the beautiful outdoor scenery of the Farm at South Mountain with live music, yard games, and children’s activities.

This year’s program will take place on Saturday, Jan. 27 at the Farm at South Mountain, located at 6106 S. 32nd Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets on sale now at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/feeding-the-future-tickets-757681063457?aff=oddtdtcreator

Blue Watermelon Project’s Feeding the Future is a culinary contest that challenges students to create healthy, great-tasting meals to bring awareness to the school nutrition industry and places students at the creative helm of crafting a school lunch tray that meets the financial and nutritional standards of the National School Lunch Program.

Winning students receive a variety of prizes, including scholarships for the high school students, and thematic prizes for middle school and elementary students. This year, Feeding the Future will be presented by Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, supporting the top high school student scholarship at $10,000 and at least four winning schools will have their dishes made and served at their school for their fellow students to try.

Blue Watermelon Project could not do the work they do without the support of The Steele Foundation and Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation.