Food from the 'Hood was a high school-based, student-owned, organically farmed products company that also marketed a line of natural salad dressings.
Founded in 1993, the non-profit organization was still in business in 2003, during the 10th anniversary of the Los Angeles riots from which it was born.
Early history
The program was founded in 1993 in the aftermath of the
1992 Los Angeles riots
The 1992 Los Angeles riots, sometimes called the 1992 Los Angeles uprising and the Los Angeles Race Riots, were a series of riots and civil disturbances that occurred in Los Angeles County, California, in April and May 1992. Unrest began in S ...
.
In the wake of the riots,
Crenshaw High School biology teacher Tammy Bird, met a non-profit organization, Gardens For Kids, which offered to help her restore the garden in the back of her classroom.
[ Melinda McMullen, a public relations executive, joined Bird shortly thereafter.][ Together, they offered students at Crenshaw High School the opportunity to help rebuild their community by reclaiming a 1/4-acre weed-infested plot of land behind Bird's classroom.][
Initially, the students decided to grow organic foods and donate 25% of their bounty to a local non-profit organization called "Helpers for the Homeless and the Hungry". They decided they would sell the rest at the Santa Monica Farmer's Market under the name "Food from the 'Hood".][ At the end of the first year, they had a total of $600, which funded small college scholarships for the three graduating students.][ With more students scheduled to graduate the following year, it was clear that the students needed another plan.][ 2,000 dollars in scholarships in the recent years
]
Press coverage and growth
In October 1993, Ron Harris, a columnist for the '' Los Angeles Times'', publicized their story in a widely-read column.[ Norris Bernstein, former president of Bernstein's Salad Dressing, heard about the students' efforts and contacted Food from the 'Hood. Now retired, Bernstein volunteered to help with the final work on the salad dressing formula, help price the product, and develop a marketing plan.][
Bernstein became part of the adult team of advisers. Bird supervised the students' work garden and helped manage the weekly trips to the Santa Monica Farmers' market, while McMullen focused on trying to generate visibility for the effort. Eventually, ''CBS Morning News'' took an interest in the story and sent national correspondent ]Hattie Kauffman
Hattie Kauffman is an American journalist. A member of the Nez Perce people, she was the first Native American to file a report on a national news broadcast.
Early life
She spent the first three years of her life on the Nez Perce Reservation in ...
out to cover the story. Over the next three years, Kauffman became close to the students—eventually doing three pieces on Food from the 'Hood.
Within a week of the piece airing on ''CBS Morning News'', the students received a call from a representative from Rebuild LA, a non-profit organization formed after the riots to help revitalize of the city that were impacted by the riots. An executive from one of their founding companies had seen the piece on CBS Morning News and wanted to learn more. The students had their business plan ready and within a few weeks Food from the 'Hood, then a 501(c) corporation, received a $50,000 grant to help scale up their salad dressing company. In December 1993, the students farmed and donated holiday food packages to "Helpers for the Homeless and the Hungry".
A few months later, the students from Food From the 'Hood launched the first in what would become a line of three flavors of Food from the 'Hood salad dressing.
Later years and closing
Food from the 'Hood continued for a number of years after the original founders went off to college, and continued to fund college scholarships. In 2002, Oprah Winfrey awarded the organization a major contribution as part of her "Use Your Life" Awards. The organization closed a few years later, but many of the Food From the 'Hood student-owners continue to stay in close touch.
References
{{reflist
External links
Los Angeles Times -- October 22, 1993 -- A Path to College is Paved with Salad DressingBusiness Week -- May 8, 1994 -- From Riot and Ruin a Surprising Harvest
ttp://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20103324,00.html People Magazine - June 27, 1994 - Salad Daysbr>Oprah Winfrey Use Your Life Awards - May 22, 2002
* ttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-26-mn-54913-story.html LA Times - Southland Primps for a Visit from Prince Charles - October 26, 1994br>LA Times - Interview with Food From the 'Hood Student-Owner Jaynell Grayson, Oct. 16, 1994
1993 establishments in California
History of Los Angeles
Organizations based in Los Angeles
Food banks in California
Social enterprises