Our Partners
At Next Gen (BFF), we deeply value our partners' critical role in enhancing our students' educational and career opportunities. These collaborations enrich our programs with invaluable knowledge and expertise and open up distinctive opportunities for internships, research projects, and future job prospects. By weaving our partners' strengths into both our academic and extracurricular offerings, we can prepare our students with the essential tools, experiences, and connections needed to shape the future generation of agriculture and human scientists.
Contact: (480) 461-6200 or Contact Form
San Diego Mesa College provides community college students with pathways to careers in agriculture and natural resources management. NextGen faculty and graduate students provide technical assistance and advising for Mesa student research projects along with opportunities to present research at academic conferences. By building connections across our campuses, Mesa students will have a better understanding of awaits them at SDSU and beyond.
Contact: (619) 476-3300
Chula Vista High School offers an elective course "Social Justice in Food" where students “learn by doing” in the outdoors. This program was established in 2016 by teacher Maria Galleher. Students start the day with traditional class work that includes academic readings and discussions. The majority of the time is spent outdoors; gardening, composting food waste from the cafeteria, planting, harvesting and sampling the food they grow. The students completed a final project where they created a StoryMap. They work collaboratively with students of all levels maintaining several gardens around campus; an organic vegetable garden, a fruit tree orchard and native gardens that support native life and increase biodiversity.
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Contact: (760) 436-3036 or Contact Form
San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG) is located in Encinitas, California. SDBG is known for outstanding formal education programs from early childhood through high school, as well as outstanding informal education for visitors of all ages. Each year, thousands of children from school districts across San Diego County participate in on-site and remote learning programs. SDBG’s Education Department manages 4 dedicated classroom spaces, including state of the art facilities constructed in 2019 as a part of the Garden’s Dickinson Family Education Conservatory. This 7,000 square foot space includes over 5,000 square feet of conservatory greenhouse that serves as a botanical laboratory, as well as 2 separate classroom spaces for diverse programming. Additionally, the SDBG maintains several outdoor classrooms and dedicated indoor and outdoor artistic gallery spaces.
Contact: The Center Director (acting), William Orts
510-559-5600 or bill.orts@ars.usda.gov
The Center houses six research units that focus on various areas: bioproducts research, crop improvement and genetics, foodborne toxin detection and prevention, healthy processed foods, invasive species and pollinator health, and produce safety and microbiology. The center was designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark in 2002 for developing time-temperature tolerance studies for frozen food production and in 2013 for developing flavor research methods and standards. Students will have the opportunity to participate in an internship. Where they will work alongside USDA scientists, gain hands-on research experiences, and explore career opportunities at USDA.
Connect with the program here.
The Master Gardener program, typically offered through universities in the United States and Canada, provides intensive horticultural training to individuals who then volunteer as Master Gardeners in their communities by giving lectures, creating gardens, conducting research, and many other projects.
Contact: rectoria@utvco.edu.mx
The Universidad Tecnológica de los Valles Centrales de Oaxaca (UTVCO) is a public institution of higher technological education that trains competent and innovative professionals with a vision of entrepreneurialism and social awareness. With 15 years of experience the UTVCO has trained leaders with a global vision that includes goals for social progress in their activities in an ethical fashion, while also respecting all people's dignity.
Contact: Dr. Iana Castro, iana.castro@sdsu.edu
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BrightSide Produce is a full-service produce distribution service operated out of the Fowler College of Business at San Diego State University. The student-powered non-profit tackles food and nutrition insecurity in San Diego County by:
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distributing fresh produce to corner, liquor, and convenience stores, and small markets in underserved communities
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growing produce and sourcing from local farmers
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and reducing food waste through produce rescue, donations, and composting.
Founded in 2017, BrightSide currently delivers fresh produce to partner stores in National City and the south and southeast regions of the city of San Diego, within and surrounding the San Diego Promise Zone. As a result of BrightSide Produce’s distribution services, the majority of residents in these communities have access to a retailer that offers fresh, affordable produce within a ten-minute walk of their homes.
Contact: community@garden31.org or Contact Form
Garden 31 is a San Diego-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting food sovereignty and social equity through regenerative agriculture. Founded in 2021, it empowers underserved communities by providing career opportunities, mentorship, and hands-on training in sustainable farming. The organization focuses on addressing food insecurity, economic inequality, and environmental challenges while fostering community resilience.
