TED Prize

Jamie Oliver: One year later, five major announcements

Posted by:

“One year ago, the incomparable Jamie Olive came to TED and made a wish that kids should be taught what healthy food was. That families would start cooking again. And that people everywhere would join the fight against obesity.” Chris Anderson just said these words onstage at TED, to introduce Jamie Oliver. Who comes to TED with news!

Just this morning, Jamie Oliver and the American Heart Association (AHA) announced the formation of a partnership to open Food Revolution Kitchens -– community-based centers where people can learn basic cooking skills and how to prepare affordable, nutritious meals. Their goal is to have at least five kitchen centers within the next 18 months, with plans underway for New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Baltimore and Dallas.

Also unveiled today was the flagship Food Revolution truck, the mobile kitchen classroom Jamie envisioned to spread the grassroots movement. Designed pro bono by the Rockwell Group, the truck will travel to communities to teach kids, parents and professionals about food and cooking.

The truck will be part of a three-part program with the American Heart Association and The California Endowment to bring food education to four underserved communities in Los Angeles (South LA, Boyle Heights, Long Beach and Santa Ana).

A new community website and on-the-ground activist program also kicks off today: www.jamiesfoodrevolution.com. On this site, parents who want to change school food can download toolkits and participate in seminars and tutorials. People who want to learn to cook can also download recipes and videos. Mapping technology and Facebook will help people find their local allies and get active in their own communities.

“Jamie Oliver is a force to be reckoned with, and combined with the vision and dedication of the TED community, we are on our way to realizing his wish,” said Amy Novogratz, TED Prize Director. “In just one year, we have met benchmarks and exceeded expectations. Together we have built a Food Revolution truck, established critical partnerships, and launched the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation. With growing momentum and support, imagine where we will be in 2012.”