Food Cycle: Riding the Sustainability Highway

Getting healthy, local, sustainably grown food into school lunch programs is the mission.

The method is a 4,500 mile bike trip across the USA to raise funds and raise awareness  for the cause.   

SSU alumni Adam Williams has been cycling across the US from Maine to California with his colleague Leah Heyman, from Sharon, Mass., where the local about the effort in April, before they set out.

They are making the trip as part of an effort called FoodCycle, to bring local school lunch programs together with local organic farms to build a sustainable model.

Williams, who comes from Brunswick, Maine, holds a degree in environmental studies from Sonoma State University. He was a student speaker at SSU’s commencement ceremony in 2009.   

"Lunch shouldn’t be a time for students to 'tune out' and disconnect from their learning environment," says Williams.

"Lunch programs around the country should embrace the opportunity to educate young people about the consequences of unhealthy eating habits, as well as the effect of these habits on the local communities," he says. "Just because we are a product of the system, doesn’t mean we can’t produce better results." 

Raising awareness about the growing epidemic of childhood obesity in the nation is also a primary goal.   A video explaining their philosophy and aims can be viewed at www.foodcycleus.com.  

Williams and Heyman started their journey on April 21 in Brunswick, Maine. The primary direct beneficiarty of their ride is Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary there, for which they plan to contribute 3,000 of organic food this year.

Right now the pair are in Davis, nearling the end of  their 4,500 mile journey. You can follow the progress of their journey on their website, along with blogs and other links.

They are due in Sonoma County mid-week, and a celebration in their honor at the is being planned at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 1. "It's going to be one of those great small town gatherings," said Jean Wasp of the SSU media department.  

The gathering at the Redwood Café is open to the public. It will be an opportunity to welcome the Food Cycle riders to Sonoma County, and give Adam and Leah a chance to talk about what they’re doing and why, and to share their adventures on the road.