Urban Harvest's "Grow A Resilience" is a COVID-19 response to ensure Houstonians stay healthy, active & nutritiously fed. The project: 1) Sustains the largest farmers market in the region- supporting 110 hard-hit local farms & small businesses while offering a safe way for community members to access food; 2) Reaches 23,500 Houstonians with organic garden education via online webinars, classes & resources; & 3) Matches SNAP benefits dollar-for-dollar on fresh produce at farmers markets citywide.
In 2022, US food prices have risen 11% year-over-year as of July 2022, the fastest pace in more than 40 years, disproportionately burdening Houston's small to midsized local food producers and magnifying the threat of hunger and malnutrition in our local communities. Facing the worst inflation levels in decades, now more than ever there is a need to make sure children, schoolteachers, and families have the meaning to access healthy food choices.
Urban Harvest is adjusting to the current prices and demand for services, bolstering not only local farms and gardens but also all Houstonians. We know: Access to fresh, healthy food and safe, outdoor greenspace has never been more important. Grow Resilience is our crisis-response strategy to make sure that, especially during times of crisis, we are able to continue providing resources, education, and food to those who need it most - supporting the local food system, from seed to plate.
"Grow Resilience" addresses important issues like hunger, health, economic development, and access to safe, outdoor greenspace - providing ongoing resources & support across the local food system. The project opens pathways for safe & reliable sources of fresh, healthy food, and sustains local farms and small businesses with opportunities for consistent earned income. What's more, Grow Resilience empowers Houstonians to grow their own food and inspires everyone to give gardening a try.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).