HOUSTON – KPRC 2 and our proud Community partners at Energy Transfer, Houston Christian University and Exclusive Furniture are shining a spotlight on Urban Harvest. The organization’s vision is “A healthier life for everyone through access to fresh, nutritious food from local farms and gardens.”
Urban Harvest hosts a farmers’ market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at 2752 Buffalo Speedway in Houston. The market features fresh produce, meat and other goods from farmers, ranchers and vendors from within 180 miles of Houston.
For families in food-insecure areas, the Urban Harvest Mobile Market Program offers a convenient way to purchase fresh, healthy food at reduced costs. The program accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments in addition to cash and credit cards. The mobile market serves the Alief, East End, Greenspoint, Gulfton, Third Ward and Northside communities around Houston. You can find the market schedule on the Urban Harvest website or text “Market” to 832-220-1376 to sign up for market reminders sent directly to your phone.
Urban Harvest’s Community Gardens program fosters a love of gardening and helps bring neighbors together to cultivate fresh, nutritious foods. There are currently 160 affiliate gardens in the program with resources online for anyone wishing to start their own community garden. On their website, Urban Harvest notes, “in low-income neighborhoods with limited access to fresh foods, community gardens introduce growers to new fruits and vegetables and make produce more accessible.”
Education is a key part of Urban Harvest’s mission. Adults can sign up for gardening classes. There are also courses for teachers and Urban Harvest has done outreach to local schools.
Currently celebrating 30 years of serving Houston, Urban Harvest is happy to welcome new volunteers and supporters interested in helping them expand their reach to more neighbors in need. You can also support the organization by attending their 30th Anniversary Sunday Supper on November 3. The event will feature farm-to-table dining with a multi-course meal from some of Houston’s top chefs.
Learn more about Urban Harvest during the month of October on KPRC 2 and, watch as Lauren Kelly chats with Carol Burton, Director of Permaculture Education, about how the organization is bringing education and support to local farmers, as well as locally-sourced foods to communities in need.