Building Stronger Local Food Systems in Schools- A Conversation with Dave Sokoll

School nutrition is more than meals, it’s a movement rooted in community, connection, and the belief that everyone deserves access to wholesome, nourishing food. Maureen sat down with long-time partner and local food systems leader Dave Sokoll, Executive Director of the Forest City Food Collective, to explore how passion, purpose, and people continue shaping local food in schools and beyond.

Honoring the OG of Local Food Systems

From the moment Dave joins the conversation, one thing is clear - his passion is contagious. Maureen

affectionately calls him “the OG of Food Systems” because of his long-standing work connecting farms, schools, and communities. Their relationship goes back decades, beginning when Dave was a chef for Lorain County Head Start, experimenting with “good cheap eats,” bringing authors into classrooms, and sparking joyful food experiences for little ones.

What started as a kitchen job quickly grew into a transformational effort. Dave shares how improving staff compensation, equipment, workflow, and vision was crucial to uplifting early childhood food programs and how those lessons still guide his work today.

Where Dave Is Now: Building Food Systems From the Ground Up

Today, Dave leads the Forest City Food Collective (formerly the Oberlin Food Hub), where he works to organize demand for local food, connect producers to markets, and support small and mid-sized family farms. His work bridges schools, restaurants, hospitals, higher education, and, increasingly, food banks, where a new wave of local procurement is taking shape.

He reflects on the evolution into farm-to-food-bank partnerships, where local organic produce moves directly from regional farms into community food distributions. In 2022, farmers collaborating with the program produced more than one million pounds of organic food for food banks - a milestone that took years of relationship-building and shared commitment.

How Local Food Systems in Schools Support Families Beyond the Cafeteria

Food banks are often misunderstood as providers of only canned or shelf-stable goods. Dave challenges that narrative.

At a recent mobile pantry in Avon, he saw hundreds of families - women with children, elderly individuals, and working adults who simply aren’t earning enough to make ends meet - receiving fresh, high-quality produce grown right here in Ohio.

As he explains, “everyone should have the dignity of the same high-quality food to eat,” whether that food is going to a high-end restaurant, a grocery store, a school cafeteria, or a family’s passenger seat at a mobile pantry.

Fresh foods bring hope, connection, and empowerment - especially when paired with education on how to prepare ingredients like collards, kale, or winter squash. This is where collaboration with partners like Pisanick Partners and Feed Our Future becomes essential: offering recipes, training, and actionable inspiration so families not only receive food, but can use it confidently and joyfully.

Farmers: The Artistry and Engineering Behind Every Harvest

When asked what a “day in the life” looks like for small and mid-sized farmers, Dave paints a powerful picture:

Farmers are conductors, engineers, and artists - building roads through their own fields, solving daily logistical challenges, managing staff, and caring for the land with skill passed down through generations. Many pay well above minimum wage because they believe deeply in treating their employees with dignity.

He emphasizes that America cannot afford to lose agricultural knowledge. Once lost, it will not return - another reason strengthening local food purchasing, farm-to-school programs, and community partnerships is crucial.

Connecting Students With Local Food

Local food systems in schools play a critical role in connecting students to fresh, nutritious foods while supporting regional farmers and strengthening community food security. As Dave explains, building these systems requires collaboration, education, and long-term investment in the people who grow and serve our food.

Dave and Maureen share a vision: exposing students to the story behind their food sparks curiosity, respect, and healthier lifelong habits.

From farmer trading cards to fresh-cut watermelon demos, students become more excited about food when they meet the humans behind it. The cafeteria becomes an extension of the classroom - a place for storytelling, skill-building, and wellness.

Dave even jokes that he’s ready to rap about farm-to-school, and Maureen promises to invest in the production when the time comes.

The Heart of the Work

Above all, this episode is about passion - for people, for food systems, and for building healthier communities. Whether he’s supporting food banks, championing farmers, or helping schools rethink procurement, Dave’s mission is rooted in dignity, connection, and a belief that everyone should have access to real, whole food.

Dave’s Favorite School Lunch?

Buffalo chicken sandwiches - because they were comforting, familiar, and made him feel grounded during the school day. A reminder that food isn’t just fuel; it’s emotional safety, culture, and comfort.

Watch the full podcast episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdecRf3NUI8

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