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Sydney is part of the Harvest VISTA program and is serving as an AmeriCorps member at FareStart, a social enterprise nonprofit in Seattle, WA. As the Mobile Community Market Food Access VISTA for the food security department, her work revolves around volunteer recruitment and management, community outreach at markets and with partners, and improving data systems for food donation processes.

FareStart is largely known for its job training and employment program, and students partaking in the program work hand in hand with the food security team. Students assist with receiving food donations and market-readying produce to be distributed throughout King County. FareStart also thrives with a one of a kind volunteer force, where kitchen volunteers interact with produce used for a number of purposes within the organization. As part of a plan aiming to create more efficient and valuable food donation processes, Sydney spent two months creating a produce identification guide for FareStart’s volunteers and students to reference in the kitchen, and in the classroom. 

The produce identification guide is 53 pages long, and is categorized by the four types of regularly handled produce (greens and herbs, seeds and rows, fruit, and roots). Sydney then wrote a description for each item, listed the most common varieties, and provided images to show what each variety looks like. She also added pages for each category summarizing the best storage and conditioning practices for specific items, provided a list of what is in season when, and a page listing common knife cuts that students will learn when chopping produce. Sydney ensured the guide popped with color, and sparked passion and creativity in those who use it. There are two versions of the guide being used within FareStart that complement other signage Sydney has added to the kitchen to contribute to an efficient and organized work environment.