Retailer’s Nutritionist Spurs Kids to Create, Sell Salads

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Kowalski’s Markets’ nutritionist Sue Moores has launched a non-profit program, Roots for the Home Team, that has urban teenagers selling salads, made from their own recipes, at Minnesota Twins’ home games.

They’re not Kowalski’s salads. In fact, not only did the teens create the recipes, they grew most of the salads’ ingredients in their communities’ Garden Club plots.

They were already growing their own vegetables when Moores introduced her idea to the Garden Clubs.

“I’ve done this independently of Kowalski’s, but Kowalski’s is completely supportive,” Moores told SN.

Related story: Kowalski’s Holds Class on Digestive Health

Roots for the Home Team was two years in the making, as Moores and others ironed out the details and recruited corporate sponsors. The Twins lagged behind, taking two years to say “yes” to such a unique concession at Target Field.

Moores, a registered dietitian, meets with the kids about twice a month to talk about food, develop recipes, and teach them about food safety.

“Right now, I’m plugged into three Garden Clubs in the Twin Cities area. This program fits right in with their existing youth development programs using gardening and food.”

This year, Roots for the Home Team, will start selling at the ballpark on June 1 at a Twins home game.

“Last year, our first, we were at eight home games, and this year we’ll be at 18. No other ballpark is doing anything like this.”

The reception last year was good.

“Some people came back to the stand later to tell the kids how much they enjoyed their salad.”

Served in clam shell containers, the salads are priced at $8, and a new one, with chicken, is $10.

“All proceeds go back into the program,” Moores said.

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