Suzanne Falzone (seated center) receives a commendation from Congressman Mike Thompson for her work as past president of Yolo Farm to Fork. Christine Polycarpe (standing center) has succeeded Falzone as president of the nonprofit. Photo courtesy of Yolo Farm to Fork

YOLO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Local nonprofit Yolo Farm to Fork has welcomed a new president, Christine Polycarpe. Former president Suzanne Falzone will now move into the treasurer position that Polycarpe previously occupied on the nonprofit’s board of directors.

In 2002, Christine Polycarpe and her husband Matthieu Kohlmeyer left their home country of France for Woodland, California, where they established the specialty cooking oil brand La Tourangelle.

Inspired by the visionary work of Alice Waters and her Edible Schoolyard project, Christine was soon drawn to support Yolo Farm to Fork and their mission of fostering healthier nutrition, vibrant well-being, and stronger communities.

In 2019, Polycarpe established a 1-acre community garden in Woodland and launched the La Tourangelle Foundation. The garden provides fresh produce to those in need, especially food banks and local schools. It also collaborates with Yolo Farm to Fork to host field trips for students to learn about edible gardening, regenerative agriculture, healthy cooking with fresh produce, and more.

"It's an honor to embrace the responsibility of advancing Yolo Farm to Fork’s mission to cultivate healthier, more vibrant lives for our children through the transformative power of gardening, culinary education, and environmental stewardship,” says Polycarpe. “With unwavering dedication and the collaborative efforts of our esteemed partners – from schools to corporations to community allies – I am confident that we will forge a path of profound impact for our children and their families."

Yolo Farm to Fork is a nonprofit that supports over 68 edible school garden programs throughout Yolo County and provides garden-centered and farm-based education to students. Their mission is to educate the public, especially our children, about the value of a farm-to-table community food system that also teaches us to value the environment.

For more information about Yolo Farm to Fork, visit https://www.yolofarmtofork.org/.