Episode 44 | Nourishing Communities | Michelle Lerach, Founder, Christina Ng, ”Foundation Cultivator”, Berry Good

In this episode of "Live Local, Give Local" listeners enjoy a great conversation between Charles Parisi, the Host, this episode's co-host, Adriana O'Donnell, Michelle Lerach and Christina Ng of Berry Good.

In this podcast episode, the hosts introduce their guests from the Berry Good Food Foundation, a nonprofit organization. The guests are Michelle Lerach, the founder of the organization, and Christina Ng, the "Foundation Cultivator." Hear Michelle talk about how she transitioned from being a lawyer to founding the Berry Good Food Foundation after working on a goat farm in Sonoma during a sabbatical. It was there that she realized the power of community support for farmers and wanted to create a similar sense of community in San Diego, which led her to start the Berry Goodnight Dinner in 2010.

The dinner brought together chefs, farmers, food activists, and writers to connect and share. Over the years, this community expanded to both sides of the border, creating a strong network in the region. The Berry Good Food Foundation was formed as an extension of this community, with a focus on teaching people how to cook and grow their own food, creating a fair and equitable food system.

Christina shares her experience of meeting Michelle at one of the Berry dinners and how it led to a life-changing connection with her now-husband, a farmer. Listen in on a discussion about the importance of access to healthy food and how partnerships with organizations like the Berry Good Food Foundation help ensure that families in San Diego County have access to quality healthcare and nutritious food.

Hear Michelle emphasize the need to challenge the industrial food system and advocates for policy changes to promote healthier food choices. She mentions the organization's signature program, Seeds for the Future, which focuses on school gardens, and the Future Thought Leaders panels, which aim to educate people about food and its impact on health. Michelle also talks about the role of community partnerships and how organizations like San Diego Gives can help them expand their reach and impact.

For more information on the many services of San Diego Gives, please visit www.SanDiegoGives.org.