Taste Quest: An Exploration of Business Strategy

Publication Date

Spring 4-22-2026

Presentation Length

15 minutes

College

Interdisciplinary Studies & Global Education

Department

Honors Program

Student Level

Undergraduate

Faculty Mentor

Jeffrey Wade Overby

Metadata/Fulltext

Fulltext

Presentation Type

Talk/Oral

Summary

Over the past several months, our team partnered with Taste Quest, a Nashville-based nonprofit founded by Emily Sauerman. Our team wished to evaluate its current structure and identify opportunities for long-term sustainability and growth. Initially, our team aimed to contribute through increased volunteer support, partnership development, and to improve the current assessment tool. However, amidst our exploration process, Sauerman transitioned the organization toward a more scalable, curriculum-based model, and our focus shifted accordingly. Through a combination of pre-interview research, evaluation interviews, and in-person event observations, we developed a more comprehensive understanding of both the strengths and operational challenges within Taste Quest.

Our findings revealed that the program’s play-based, hands-on approach to food education is highly engaging for children, particularly through interactive games that encourage trying new foods. However, recurring challenges included inconsistent attendance, limited volunteer support, logistical inefficiencies in food preparation, and difficulties implementing assessment tools across diverse settings. Interviews with educators and community partners further highlighted barriers such as resource accessibility, varying instructor experience levels, and the need for more adaptable and less intimidating evaluation methods.

In response, our project narrowed to refining Taste Quest’s assessment tool and strengthening its accessibility and usability. Our final deliverables include two visually engaging posters that model a simplified, more approachable version of the assessment system, designed to reach broader audiences across varying socioeconomic contexts and promote classroom engagement. These materials aim to support program facilitators while maintaining alignment with Taste Quest’s mission. Ultimately, our work contributes to a more sustainable framework that empowers children and communities alike, ensuring that every participant can experience a “taste of Taste Quest.”

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