Rodney Taylor

Biography

40 years experience in the food service industry, having worked in college and university, fast-food, dining, management consultant, and school food service administration. Through my vast amount of experience, knowledge and education, I have been able to giving testimony to government agencies, elected officials, and has served as a consultant, public speaker, presenter, and instructor on various food related issues. A noted pioneer, and expert in farm-to-school salad bars, he is particularly known for establishing the “Farmers’ Market Salad Bar” (FMSB) program in 1997, while working as Director of Food and Nutrition Services in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, in Santa Monica, California. Rodney is the recipient of numerous honors and awards. In 2013 he received the Center for Ecoliteracy’s “ Leadership Award”, The California Endowment’s “Health Heroes” Award, Loma Linda University Award for “The Promotion Of Healthy Lifestyles---For Outstanding Commitment To The Public’s Health,” The Riverside Human Relations Commission "Heroes Award"​ and the N.A.A.C.P. "Education Award," just to name a few. Rodney has served on the California State Board of Food and Agriculture, the University of California (UC) President’s Advisory Commission for Agriculture and Natural Resources, as well as the Network for a Healthy California’s Executive Committee.

Research Interest

Food and Nutrition