When are ingredients considered “local” on a luxury yacht with impeccable foodservices? And do football fans really care where their hot dogs are made?

Learning to act sustainably requires a mindset change, and long-term thinking must replace short-term thinking. Teaching why sustainability is so important now and in the future will arm your graduates with the power to make sound ecological decisions.

High-school culinary-arts programs in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Batavia, N.Y., earn honors for exemplary practices in—and innovative teaching of—ecological sustainability.

Kendall College, Chicago, and the Annapolis, Md.-based Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education (CAFÉ) presented 2015 CAFÉ/Kendall College Green Awards to two secondary hospitality programs during a June 18 reception at CAFÉ’s 11th-annual Leadership Conference for foodservice educators at Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Among dozens of submissions from secondary and postsecondary programs nationwide, Kent Career Technical Center in Grand Rapids, Mich., received this year’s top award. According to chef-instructor Sarah Waller, who teaches advanced baking and pastries at Kent, the $1,000 grant from Kendall College will help fund the high school’s goal to become the first water-bottle-free secondary school in Michigan.

Chef Charlie Ayers and other celebrity chefs support Earth Day San Francisco in honor of Earth Month.

Rock the Earth of Denver and Calafia Café of Palo Alto, Calif., held a joint fundraiser in honor of Earth Month on April 17. The popular café, owned by celebrity chef Charlie Ayers (pictured), hosted Dine Out for Earth California to celebrate the local food movement.

Several renowned Bay Area chefs joined Ayers in preparing a prix-fixe six-course meal starring locally sourced ingredients. Brews were provided by Palo Alto Brewing Company and wines were donated by Whitcraft Winery, Seamus Winery and Domenico Winery. The event also celebrated music provided by the Bay Area’s Dan Lebowitz (ALO), and Bo Carper and Rajiv Parikh (New Monsoon).

Proceeds from the evening benefited Rock the Earth and Earth Day San Francisco. Rock the Earth is a national not-for-profit environmental organization that works to protect and maintain America’s natural resources to ensure a healthy and sustainable environment through partnerships with the music industry and the worldwide environmental community. Earth Day San Francisco commemorated the 45th anniversary of Earth Day.

Here’s a valuable education-resources fact sheet to help educators effectively teach seafood sustainability.

Courtesy of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation

Education is the key to the future development and management of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Available below as a .pdf file for download, educators will find descriptions of helpful web sites linking them to an array of educational materials so they can develop an appropriate curriculum for their classes.

Begin by visiting Monterey Bay Aquarium’s SeafoodWatch website at www.seafoodwatch.org. This site provides downloadable pocket guides as well as important information on seafood species, fishery and aquaculture issues and much more.