Hether Jonna Frayer’s cooking classes complement co-op education

Food co-op communities have long understood that fresh food is fun. Columinate consultant Hether Jonna Frayer’s work embodies that message in her set of energetic cooking classes, now available online to complement your co-op’s education and outreach efforts.

Lunchroom lessons

While an aide in her children’s school years ago, Frayer observed young eaters’ behaviors in the lunchroom. Many were opting not to bite into fresh-looking vegetables and fruits, and much was wasted. Indeed, it is one thing for whole, unprocessed food to get onto the tray; it is quite another for it to reach the mouth. Hether’s inspiration to make fresh foods fun is rooted in those lunch hours. Eaters of all ages have propensities, and perhaps biases, around food. Eaters of all ages can benefit from reminders to appreciate the bright colors, flavors and textures that fruits and vegetables provide.

“As a Fresh Food Fairy, I encourage good nutrition by making fresh food fun with high-energy, joyful experiences to begin or deepen one’s relationship to fresh food. And anyone who has fun with food is a fresh food fairy!”

This inclusive and enthusiastic ethos led her to design classes around food preparation and cooking.

Online classes encourage cooking and questions

Lively and clear, Frayer’s virtual offerings showcase technique-based foods including dolma stuffing and wrapping, tamale filling and folding, and mozzarella cheesemaking. Classes are offered via Zoom with an intent that viewers actively cook while in attendance. She and her collaborators, which at times include her family members, share recorded excerpts which can be paused when questions arise. While the recording itself is typically around 45 minutes in length, participants can add to that time at will, and full class sessions are usually around 90 minutes.

Those who register for the classes typically receive an ingredient list and recipes, including vegetarian options, one week prior to the class date. Some co-ops, including BriarPatch Food Co-op in Grass Valley, California, offer their owners a $5 coupon to purchase ingredients. There are options for co-ops of all sizes: Frayer’s online cooking classes can be folded into an existing line-up of classes, scheduled in tandem with other co-ops, or offered in a community space or private residence.

Emotionally accessible—and fun

These classes create positive associations with fresh foods by exploring “emotional accessibility” while discussing how taste buds need practice to appreciate flavors. And instilling joy and excitement about food in younger audiences is encouraged through activities such as karate-chopping green beans, experimenting how loudly carrots can be crunched, and wearing mustaches of bell pepper strips.

Co-ops are well versed in the broad concept of food accessibility—in which community members have the psychological ownership, financial means, and physical capability to reach the store. The Fresh Food is Fun curriculum equally centers emotional accessibility: Do I want this food? Do I want to put the time into making it? Does it look nice and feel fun?

Build a stronger, more connected co-op community through sharing seasonal foods and recipes from various cultures. Fresh food and fun, Hether Jonna Frayer’s priorities, are primed and ready for your co-op audience.

Contact Hether Jonna Frayer if your organization is interested in sponsoring one or more of these virtual cooking classes.