A new great opportunity of engaging with the local community for all ISI students of the “Sustainable Food & Environmental Systems Program”: a week’s hands-on experience when program participants work side by side, instructed by local vendors, coordinators, and restaurateurs of Florence.

Thanks to strong relationships developed between the Institute and local professionals in the food industry, the students can now join and explore some of the complex processes of the food system, such as processing, transportation, distribution, selling and preparation. Supervised by their professor, students are divided into 4 groups of 4-5 people each and they are guided by an on-site coordinator who makes sure that they get involved in daily activities. An important occasion for students to better understand what they learn and to increase awareness of local food culture and sustainability.

Our local partners are:

Sant’Ambrogio market: students work for different food stands at a traditional market in downtown Florence (includes fish, meat, fruit & veg, bread stands and a restaurant).

Caritas soup kitchen: students are involved in food preparation and serving at the soup kitchen of the National Catholic Charity Organization (“Caritas”). Food for charity!

Florence Delivery Co-op: students participate in food logistics on a regional scale, coordinating deliveries of fresh products to supermarkets and schools, also exploring food conservation/storage.

Neighborhood grocery stores and restaurants: from the ingredients to the table. Students work in a grocery store (serving customers, door to door deliveries) understanding the importance of seasonal products. Afterwards they move to a restaurant and work closely with chefs, preparing traditional recipes and serving customers.

In sum, a truly engaging experience that program participants will never forget!

 

Featured in the local news Corriere Fiorentino TV – LINK