"My experience at the ball park was amazing. The first time I was a little shy, but I love selling our salads and will love working in food service in the future."
We believe that our youth are not only our future....they are our now.
We believe in the power of local healthy food systems.
We believe in empowering youth with entreprenuerial skills and healthy food savvy....and we believe in making it fun!
Roots MKE partners with local urban ag programs like Groundwork, Learn-Earn-Grow and others who recommend members of their crews to join a Roots MKE crew. Our food service professionals (chefs and culinary instructors) train these students in front-of-house hospitality and back-of-house food service best practices. The students then work with our Chef Coaches to create a salad recipe based on the ingredients they grow in their garden programs.
Roots MKE supports the local urban ag programs by purchasing their organic produce at a fair price, and reimburses the programs for wages paid to crews while harvesting.
This is just the beginning of our premium salads.
We then buy produce from other local growers such as Milwaukee Farmers Union (including veterans, people with disabilities, and underserved communities), as well as Braise Local Foods which supplies Wisconsin grown produce, our fantastic free-range, antibiotic-free chicken option, and more.
"I had my first introduction to being an entrepreneuer which was so cool. I'm inspired to grow my own vegetables."
Then it's off to Miller Park! Our crews arrive two hours before gates open, preparing the first batch of salad samples. The excitement of seeing the stadium before fans arrive is an exhilerating experience for our crews. Sometimes we have time to go visit our friends in the pressbox for a photo op....and to serve a few salads.
Finally, the gates open and fans scurry in looking for their day's meal. Two of our crew members are in front of the kiosk at Gate 119 offering salad samples and talking to fans about the ingredients they grew. As fans try the deliscious samples, a line forms at the kiosk and we are selling our salads!
"It was a good way to interact with new people and learn how to communicate better."
This is an extraordinary experience for the students. They learn how to work quickly and effectively as a team under pressure while keeping a professional attitude. Most games we sell out! Students are thrilled to see a demand for product they have grown, designed, and sold. Many don't want to go home at the end of a game, and they want to know when they can work at Miller Park again.
"I just love everything about Roots!"
Our students love Roots MKE and you will too! Please join us in growing the number of students we serve by making a gift to Roots MKE. Then come get a salad! They are delicious!
For more info about Roots For The Home Team, visit www.rootsforthehometeam.org or contact Bonnie Halvorsen at bonnie@rootsforthehometeam.org.
