Culinary Education in Action: Nutrition, Local Foods, and Workforce Development

Join the Maine Nutrition Council for a behind-the-scenes look at the Capital Area Technical Center (CATC) Culinary Arts Program in Augusta. Led by instructors Heidi Parent and Patrick Austin, this engaging session will explore how students develop culinary skills, food safety knowledge, and nutrition awareness through hands-on learning. Participants will learn about dietary accommodations, ServSafe training, local food sourcing initiatives, hydroponic growing systems, mushroom cultivation projects, and sustainable Maine seafood partnerships while discovering how culinary education prepares students for diverse careers in the foodservice industry.