Portland, Ore. (Sept. 15, 2026) – The James Beard Public Market today announced that classes for its Nutrition for All program are now open for registration. The free educational initiative is designed to help Oregonians gain cooking skills, eat well and feel more confident with food. Classes begin September 22 and will be offered twice a month through 2027.
Classes will be held primarily at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM)’s new downtown Portland campus (2220 SW 1st Avenue, Portland, OR). The James Beard Public Market, set to open in 2027, will eventually serve as the primary home for the program offering ongoing free classes.
“This is about making nutrition education more accessible and more relevant to people’s everyday lives,” said Jessica Elkan, Executive Director of the James Beard Public Market. “We are thrilled to partner with NUNM to bring their best class curriculum to this project, it truly is the perfect community pairing.”
Nutrition for All Program Manager Judiaann Woo is designing a program that connects food, education, and community. NUNM will lead the education component, drawing on its Food as Medicine Everyday curriculum. Courses will be taught by NUNM faculty and alumni, as well as guest chefs. Programming will also highlight Oregon farmers, local products, and small food businesses.
“We are proud to partner with the James Beard Public Market to expand access to nutrition education across Oregon,” said NUNM President Dr. Melanie Henriksen. “At NUNM, we see food as a powerful tool for health, and this work allows us to share that in a way that is not only practical but also rooted in community needs.”
The Nutrition for All schedule includes the following classes:
- Meal Prep for Busy Families on September 22, with Courtney Jackson and Julie Briley, Authors of Food As Medicine Everyday: Reclaim Your Health with Whole Foods, at the NUNM Teaching Kitchen.
- Easy Cheesemaking at Home on September 29, with Claudia Lucero of Urban Cheesecraft at the NUNM Teaching Kitchen.
- Preserving the Bounty on October 11, with Chef Will Preisch at Abbey Road Farm in Carlton, Oregon.
- Autumn Squash Three Ways on October 29 with Marne Minard of Bastion PDX at NUNM Teaching Kitchen.
Additional classes include: Balancing Blood Sugar Strategies in November during Diabetes Awareness Month, Healthier Holiday Baking, and more. Classes will be offered two times per month year round.
The Nutrition for All initiative is supported in part by Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and its philanthropic arm, the Cambia Health Foundation. This partnership advances a shared commitment to expanding access to fresh food and nutrition education — promoting healthier, more connected communities across Oregon.
“Our health extends far beyond the walls of hospitals and doctor visits. True well-being starts with the food we eat. What fills our plates today determines our health outcomes tomorrow, directly impacting conditions like diabetes and heart disease that affect millions of Americans,” said Regence Vice President of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon Renee Balsiger. “The James Beard Public Market and its Nutrition for All initiative represents a vision of community health where everyone has access to quality food, nutrition education and connection.”
On September 15, class details will be published on James Beard Public Market’s website and ticket registration will open. These are hands-on, intimate sessions which means space is limited and sign-up is encouraged.
About Cambia Health Foundation
Cambia Health Foundation connects the company’s philanthropic dollars to communities through nonprofit partners. Founded in 2007, the foundation has funded over $143 million in grants to advance patient and family-centered care for all. We purposefully invest in ideas that expand access to behavioral health care to advance equity through whole-person health.
About National University of Natural Medicine
The National University of Natural Medicine, founded in 1956, is the longest-standing accredited naturopathic medical school in North America. Located in Portland, Oregon, NUNM offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in naturopathic medicine, Chinese medicine, nutrition, integrative health sciences, and research. The university is also home to NUNM Health Centers, a teaching clinic that provides accessible, patient-centered integrative primary care to the Portland community. Learn more at nunm.edu and nunmhealthcenters.com.
About the James Beard Public Market
Projected to open next year, the James Beard Public Market will be a community-focused space, dedicated to honoring the legacy of Portland-born James Beard by celebrating the best of Oregon’s food and culture. Located at 622 SW Alder Street in downtown Portland, the James Beard Public Market will include nearly 40 small businesses, and will encompass a teaching kitchen, event space, restaurant, bakery, fish market, butcher, cheese shop, wine merchant, local farm stalls, prepared foods, cookbook store, and fast casual dining. The Market will be a place where Oregonians and visitors alike can connect with local food producers, chefs, and artisans. For more information, please visit jamesbeardpublicmarket.com.
About Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, headquartered in Portland, has served Oregonians since 1941 and now provides nearly one million people with comprehensive health insurance solutions. As a taxpaying, nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Regence is part of a family of companies dedicated to transforming health care by delivering innovative products and services that change the way consumers nationwide experience health care. For more information, please visit regence.com or facebook.com/regencebluecrossblueshield.