Phil Cropper, Worcester Technical High School instructor, received the national 2026 Green Award recognizing his commitment to teaching sustainability and the importance of agriculture when selecting products and designing menus. The award is sponsored by the National Pork Board and the Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education. 

At Worcester Technical High School, sustainability is not taught as a single lesson or unit; it is experienced as a living, interconnected system embedded across the culinary and pastry arts programs. Through a student-driven, real-world approach, Chef Cropper has developed fully integrated agricultural, culinary and entrepreneurial initiatives such as: 

• A student-managed community garden 
• A 2-plus-acre pollinator habitat and campus apiary 
• Students leading a hands-on hydroponic education for over 400 elementary students 
• Curating a farm-to-table culinary curriculum 
• Overseeing The Pines Café, a student-run school-based food enterprise 

Together, these components create a scalable and replicable model that transforms students from learners into producers, educators, entrepreneurs, and environmental stewards.

Chef Cropper received a $1,000 prize from the National Pork Board and commemorative plaque. Additionally, he was presented with a complimentary registration to attend CAFÉ’s 2026 Leadership Conference held this summer in Chicago. 

Click here to go back to the 2026 CAFÉ award recipients list.