Education & Workforce · Pillar 03
PARK-TO-PLATE
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
PROGRAM
A youth entrepreneurship program connecting Turlock's next generation to the Central Valley's greatest strengths — food, agriculture, and local business — through the Tri-Agency framework of the City, TUSD, and CSU Stanislaus.
First 180 Days. Discussion and development of the Park-to-Plate program
Funding Principle
Plate to Park is built on partnerships — with TUSD, local farms, nonprofits, and state nutrition and agriculture programs. The goal is to leverage existing funding streams and in-kind contributions, keeping the City's direct cost low while maximizing reach and impact for Turlock students and families.
3
Partners
City · TUSD · CSU Stanislaus
K–12
Pipeline
Integrated Curriculum Pathway
100%
Local
Rooted in Turlock's Economy
Day 1
Priority
First 180 Days Initiative
The Vision
GROW THE NEXT
GENERATION OF
TURLOCK ENTREPRENEURS
Turlock is surrounded by some of the most productive farmland in the world. The Central Valley feeds the nation — and the people who grow, process, distribute, and sell that food are the backbone of our regional economy. Yet too many young people in Turlock grow up without a clear connection to that heritage or a pathway into the entrepreneurial opportunities it creates.
Park-to-Plate changes that. By integrating food, agriculture, and business education into the TUSD curriculum — connecting students to the TUSD district learning farm, mentorship from local entrepreneurs and CSU Stanislaus faculty, and real business experience operating student-led kiosks in Turlock's public parks and the Horizon District — the program builds a generation of young people who are rooted in the community, connected to the land, and equipped to build something of their own.
This is not a one-time event or a pilot project. It is a structured, K–12 entrepreneurship pipeline — designed to grow with students from their first garden plot to their first business license.
Pillar
Education & Workforce Pipeline — Pillar 05
Framework
Tri-Agency — City · TUSD · CSU Stanislaus
Focus
Food, Agriculture & Local Business Entrepreneurship
Pipeline
K–12 through Post-Secondary Pathways
Timeline
Discussion & Development — First 180 Days
Program Framework
FOUR PILLARS OF THE PROGRAM
AGRICULTURAL ROOTS
The Central Valley is one of the most productive agricultural regions on earth — and Turlock sits at its heart. Park-to-Plate connects young people to that heritage, not as a history lesson, but as a living economic opportunity. Students learn where food comes from, how it gets to market, and how to build a business around it.
Key Elements
Farm and food system education integrated into TUSD curriculum
Hands-on agricultural programming through the TUSD district learning farm
Produce grown at the learning farm supplies the program's student-led kiosks
Agricultural heritage as a foundation for business and career pathways
YOUTH BUSINESS INCUBATION
Park-to-Plate is not just an education program — it is an entrepreneurship pipeline. Students develop real business concepts, receive mentorship from local entrepreneurs and CSU Stanislaus faculty, and operate student-led food kiosks in Turlock's public parks and the Horizon District — giving young entrepreneurs a real venue, a real customer base, and real business experience in the heart of their community.
Key Elements
Student-led food kiosks operating in Turlock city parks and the Horizon District
City permitting pathway designed specifically for Park-to-Plate youth vendors
Youth-led business concept development and pitch competitions
Micro-enterprise launch support with city and university mentorship
Access to small business resources, permitting guidance, and startup tools
Connections to local farmers markets, food events, and retail channels
TRI-AGENCY INTEGRATION
Park-to-Plate operates within the broader Tri-Agency framework — the formal City of Turlock, TUSD, and CSU Stanislaus partnership that aligns education, workforce development, and public service across the K–Doctorate pipeline. The program draws on all three partners to deliver curriculum, mentorship, and real-world opportunity.
Key Elements
TUSD curriculum integration from middle school through high school
CSU Stanislaus faculty mentorship and research partnership
City of Turlock support through parks access, permitting, and kiosk program coordination
Dual enrollment pathways connecting high school participants to college credit
COMMUNITY & LOCAL ECONOMY
Every dollar a Park-to-Plate entrepreneur earns stays in Turlock. Every kiosk they operate strengthens the local food economy. The program is designed to build a generation of Turlock entrepreneurs who are rooted in the community, connected to the land, and equipped to grow.
Key Elements
Local entrepreneur pipeline feeding into Turlock's small business ecosystem
Connections to the Turlock Certified Farmers Market and local food events
Community mentorship network linking youth to established local business owners
Long-term alumni network supporting continued entrepreneurship and civic engagement
Student Journey
FROM FIRST SEED
TO FIRST BUSINESS
EXPLORE
Middle School
Introduction to food systems, agriculture, and local entrepreneurship through TUSD curriculum integration and hands-on programming at the TUSD district learning farm.
LEARN
High School — Year 1
Business fundamentals, food safety, and agricultural economics. Students develop their first business concepts and begin preparing farm produce into market-ready products with mentor support.
BUILD
High School — Year 2
Micro-enterprise development and pitch competitions. Students begin operating student-led food kiosks in Turlock city parks and the Horizon District — real venues, real customers, real business.
LAUNCH
Senior Year / Post-Secondary
Full business launch support, dual enrollment credit, and connections to CSU Stanislaus entrepreneurship programs and local small business resources.
The Tri-Agency Framework
THREE PARTNERS.
ONE PIPELINE.
Park-to-Plate is one program within a broader Tri-Agency vision — a formal, standing partnership between the City of Turlock, TUSD, and CSU Stanislaus that aligns education, workforce development, and public service across the full K–Doctorate pipeline.
City of Turlock
PROGRAM COORDINATION & COMMUNITY ACCESS
The City provides program coordination, access to parks and public spaces for programming, permitting support for youth micro-enterprises, and connections to the local business community and farmers market network.
Turlock Unified School District
CURRICULUM INTEGRATION & STUDENT PIPELINE
TUSD integrates Park-to-Plate into the K–12 curriculum — from garden-based learning in middle school to business development coursework in high school — ensuring every Turlock student has access to the program.
CSU Stanislaus
MENTORSHIP, RESEARCH & POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS
CSU Stanislaus provides faculty mentorship, entrepreneurship program connections, dual enrollment pathways, and research support — bridging the gap between high school participation and college-level business and agricultural education.
TURLOCK'S NEXT GENERATION DESERVES A PATHWAY
Support the campaign and help build the education and entrepreneurship pipeline Turlock needs.