FRESH Food

FRESH Food is a social enterprise launched in January 2011 as an extension of VWW’s Transitional Jobs program.  As a social enterprise, FRESH Food operates as a business owned and operated by a non-profit.  VWW utilizes the methods and disciplines of business and the power of the marketplace to provide our skills training and employment supports to women with multiple barriers to employment.

Through their work in the kitchen and in the classroom, the crew develops self-confidence, work experience, and marketable skills needed to transition into permanent employment.  FRESH Food teaches graduates basic workplace and food service skills, including fundamental food safety and sanitation, knife skills, operation of food service equipment, and skills relating to the operation’s management. Read about Nicole, our first program graduates and her work at A Single Pebble Restaurant.

FRESH Food is proud to be a member of the Vermont Fresh Network.   Acceptance into the Vermont Fresh Network is a sign of commitment to utilizing a diversity of Vermont grown and produced products.  We currently work with more than 20 local and regional vendors and farmers to acquire a variety of ingredients including dairy products, herbs, vegetables, fruits, meats and honey.

FRESH Food makes use of the O’Brien Community Center’s industrial kitchen in Winooski to prepare nutritious meals for childcare centers in the Burlington and Winooski area.  Through an established partnership with Good News Garage, the program is able to provide delivery services to the childcare centers.

As the program grows, so does its reputation for locally grown nutritious meals prepared with a social mission in mind. FRESH Food has expanded its audience and does catering for special events for local area businesses and nonprofit organizations. For more information on FRESH Food’s catering services, contact Melissa Corbin at (802) 655-8900, ext 114. Learn more about our catering offerings here.

If you are interested in becoming a trainee in FRESH Food, please contact Melissa Corbin at (802) 655-8900, ext 114.  Download our application.

If your child attends one of the childcare centers we serve, click here to order lunch.
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Click the image below to watch a short movie about FRESH Food.
We thank our many partners and supporters for making FRESH Food possible:

Burlington School District Food Service
Cabot Cheese
Creative Workforce Solutions
Fletcher Allen Health Care
Hendrickson Family Foundation
Hunger Free Vermont
Jane’s Trust
Last Chance Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation
Serena Foundation
State of Vermont, Department of Labor
State of Vermont, Vocational Rehabilitation
United Way of Chittenden County, Chittenden County Childcare Food Project
Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC)
Walmart Foundation