Youth Farmers Markets Program Receives Specialty Crop Grant

Youth Farmers Markets Program Receives Specialty Crop Grant

One of the Colorado recipients of a recent USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant is the Youth Farmers Markets program. The grant will help establish more Youth Farmers Markets in more Denver-area schools. Denver Urban Gardens Director of School Garden Programs Shawnee Adelson shares more about the program
Adelson: “The grant we received is for our Youth Farmers Markets program which is a program that we have been running with Slow Food Denver since 2008. It’s a way for schools to be able to grow produce on school site and then we supplement it with local farm produce like peaches and corn. Then students are able to sell it to teachers, parents and community members.”
This is a unique program that began in Denver — other areas have taken the idea — Washington D.C. for example. The grant will also help develop a toolkit to provide step-by-step instructions of the program for schools to follow, if they are interested in beginning their own youth farmers markets. Adelson continues with the feedback they hear from parents of schools with a Youth Farmers Market Program. There are approximately 25 schools that participate in program.
Adelson: “The parents love this opportunity I think they see it as a way for their kids to be engaged. And it is also a learning opportunity for them to use their math skills and business skills. Then it also allows them to pickup some fresh produce when they picking up their children.”

 

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