Russ Zito, Johnson & Wales University associate professor, received the national 2025 Green Award recognizing his commitment to teaching sustainability and its importance in culinary education. The national award is sponsored by the United Soybean Board and the Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education. 

Chef Zito’s rich understanding of sustainability is reflected in his work developing curriculum and instruction for Johnson and Wales University's Sustainable Food Systems Program. The five-year-old program recently graduated the first cohort of four-year students. The new program’s accomplishments include growing over 900 pounds of produce in three seasons on its micro-farm, distributing over 160 dozen eggs from the addition of chicken coops and implementing various programs aimed at reducing waste. His students maintain two bee hives and he has included curriculum in the Food Systems Program instructing students on how to cook with honey. 

For example, one program class - Growing for the Menu - teaches students to develop gardens for menus and write menus from those gardens. As part of this course, students learn about the many aspects of capitalizing on foodservice waste to create micro-farms that then contribute food products back to the restaurant. 

The program is rapidly growing to serve more students with plans to expand the microform by more than 100 percent and implement more sustainability initiatives in the future. 

Chef Zito received a $1,000 prize from the United Soybean Board and commemorative plaque. Additionally, he was presented with a complimentary registration to attend CAFÉ’s 2025 Leadership Conference held this summer in Pittsburgh.

Click here to go back to the 2025 CAFÉ award recipients list.