Organic School Food Systems Research Assistant

Organic School Food Systems Research Assistant
 

Number of Positions Open: 20 Graduate or Experienced Undergraduate Students
Location: Remote
Duration: 10 hrs a week minimum, Temporary (flexible schedule
 

Help Transform School Supported Agriculture Across California!
Are you passionate about food equity, sustainability, and transforming school meals?
Conscious Kitchen, a program of Turning Green, is on a mission to revolutionize
California’s school food system by replacing conventional, processed food with fresh,
local, organic, meals. We are building a statewide, scalable, community-driven model
to transform school meals to be 100% organic statewide—and we need your help to
make it happen!

We are assembling a dedicated team of 20 Organic School Food Systems Research
Assistants to support this ambitious project – mapping school districts and organic
farms across California.

This research will lay the groundwork for connecting K-12 schools with local organic
farms to bridge the gap across agriculture, health, and nutrition. Our ultimate goal is to
develop a comprehensive, interactive map representing all 58 California counties.

This data will inform school meal programs, support small local organic farmers, and
drive statewide policy change to make California the first state in the nation to ful
transition to 100% organic school meals. If you’re a detail-oriented, data-savvy, thought
partner and doer, passionate about sustainability and education and have up to 10
hours a week to dedicate, we invite you to apply for a spot on this groundbreaking
initiative.

Why Join Us?
This is more than just a research role—it’s a chance to make a real impact on the future
of school meals and sustainability across California and ultimately the country. Your
work will directly contribute to a transformative statewide movement, empowering
schools to make healthy, organic food the standard for all students.

Key Responsibilities

Data Collection & Organization

• Utilize the CA Farm to School Regional Map, EdData from CDE, and additional
  sources to gather information on:
  • School districts and schools in each county
  • Student enrollment figures (2023-202
  • Organic farms and their proximity to schools
• Organize data into an accessible format for analysis and mapping

Outreach to Organic Farms

• Conduct outreach to organic farms to gather additional information on their
  operations
• Document farm profiles, including products grown, distribution capacity, a
  interest in collaborating with schools
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of farm responses

Collaboration & Weekly Updates

• Work closely with Conscious Kitchen team to expand research and refine data
• Attend weekly check-ins to share progress and insights
• Assist in shaping the expansion strategy as the project scales statewide

Qualifications for Research Assistants

• Undergraduate or graduate students studying environmental studies, food
  systems, public health, data science or related fields
• Organizational skills and strong attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Experience with data collection, entry, and analysis (Google Sheets proficiency is
  a plus!)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for farm outreach
• Passion for sustainable food systems and education reform

Deadline
We are looking for motivated individuals to start immediately.

Conscious Kitchen actively seeks a diverse applicant pool and encourages candidates
of all backgrounds to apply. Conscious Kitchen does not discriminate based on an
individual’s race, sex, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or on any other basis
prohibited by law.

To Apply
Qualified candidates should email their resume and cover letter to
info@consciouskitchen.org with the subject line “CK Research Assistant.” 

Join us in transforming school meals, supporting local farmers, and building a healthy, just, resilient future for the kids of California!

Thank you for your interest. We look forward to reviewing your application.