Food Jobs, a regular feature on the KCET food blog 'The Nosh,' covers Southern California men and women who work in the food industry, but not in the kitchen. For a recent post, writer Christianna Reinhardt found UC Cooperative Extension nutrition, family and consumer sciences advisor for Los Angeles County Brenda Roche.

A registered dietitian with a master of science degree in food policy and applied nutrition from Tufts University, Roche interned with UNICEF in India during college. She evaluated mother and children nutrition programs in rural villages in a hands-on, self-designed project. But first, she spent time learning about the communities the project would serve.

"You can't just descend upon a community with a program. You have to understand the community and talk to people to have any effect," Roche said.

The blog post said Roche used the same principle when she took her current position in Los Angeles.