Published on 06/22/2023
Food has long been synonymous with passion. But for Naomi Crawford, owner of Lunchette, one of Petaluma’s go-to lunch spots and an EverGreen customer since 2019, her passion for food can almost be seen as a natural extension of her lifelong passion for sustainability and conservation.
Naomi and her husband Joel Baecker embarked on their entrepreneurial journey in 2006 when they launched Pizza Politana, a mobile wood-fired pizza company that incorporated ingredients from local farmers, which they brought to farmer’s markets and used to cater events.
In 2017, they expanded their endeavors with Lunchette, a grab-and-go establishment in Petaluma that allowed them to incorporate local farmers' produce on an even larger scale.
We want to create a community of inspired, engaged optimists.
Owner
Lunchette
Their initial business mission was both simple and ambitious: everybody thrives. However, this sentiment extended beyond the well-being of Naomi, Joel, and their employees. It encompassed everything from the soil's microbiomes to the farmers tending it, and ultimately, to the entire planet.
Lunchette's values are visible in more than just their food service: Lunchette is a proud member of Zero Foodprint, which generates financial support for regenerative agriculture, honoring Afro-Indigenous farming practices.
At Lunchette, their objective is not solely to fill bellies, but to also nourish minds. "We want to create a community of inspired, engaged optimists." They believe in the power of personal interactions, particularly around the dining table, to learn and engage, because these moments can be catalysts for hope, education, action, and progress.
Naomi first learned about Sonoma Clean Power's EverGreen service during her first visit to its Advanced Energy Center. Recognizing the significance of switching to 100% renewable energy, she felt it was imperative for Lunchette to fully commit to their values of sustainability and resilience, and didn't realize how easy an ask this was.
Owner
Lunchette
EverGreen represents a straightforward, yet highly effective, way to reduce one's carbon footprint. While Naomi considers that going EverGreen at Lunchette, at their commercial kitchen, and at home, required minimum effort, she believes that discussing it openly and sharing the concept with her customers can potentially contribute to significant change.
At SCP’s Advanced Energy Center, Naomi also gained knowledge about battery storage, and the awesome alternatives to fossil fuel appliances. Naomi is a huge fan of all that the AEC offers, but mostly it's the induction cooktops! Lunchette and their commercial kitchen use only induction cooking for all their preparation needs, despite how most people likely visualize how professionals cook.
When asked about the future of Lunchette, Naomi envisions tremendous potential for building and engaging the community. With their values to guide them and the support of their customers, they can accomplish anything.
