Urban Harvest Inc

URBAN HARVEST ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY, GOOD NUTRITION, AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH THE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT OF ORGANIC GARDENING. URBAN HARVEST'S VISION IS A HEALTHIER CITY WHERE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN, NUTRITIOUS FOOD HARVESTED FROM SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY GARDENS AND FARMS.

URBAN HARVEST IS PIONEERING A "HOLISTIC APPROACH" TO HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS BY STRATEGICALLY ALIGNING PROGRAM SERVICES AND COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS IN LOW-INCOME, LOW-ACCESS NEIGHBORHOODS. AT COMMUNITY-BASED SITES LIKE SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND PARKS, URBAN HARVEST IS OFFERING A LAYERED COMBINATION OF SERVICES: INCLUDING YOUTH EDUCATION, ADULT GARDENING AND NUTRITION EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, DIG IT DAY COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER EVENTS, AND MONTHLY MOBILE FARMERS MARKETS. THESE EFFORTS WILL AMPLIFY AND SUSTAIN OUR IMPACT ACROSS HOUSTON.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE DETAILS.URBAN HARVEST'S FOOD ACCESS PROGRAM MAKES FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD THE EASY, AFFORDABLE CHOICE FOR ALL THROUGH DOUBLE UP HOUSTON, A MOBILE MARKET, AND A VAST NETWORK OF COMMUNITY GARDENS. DOUBLE UP HOUSTON, A SNAP-INCENTIVE PROGRAM, IS NOW AVAILABLE AT 12 PARTICIPATING FARMERS' MARKETS AND FARM STANDS ACROSS HOUSTON. FOOD INSECURE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS CAN NOW USE THEIR SNAP BENEFITS TO PURCHASE FRESH, LOCAL FOODS AT PARTICIPATING MARKETS AND FARM STANDS AND RECEIVE UP TO AN ADDITIONAL $40 MATCH IN DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS TO USE ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. THE MOBILE MARKET REGULARLY VISITS SITES WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS GATHERSCHOOLS, PARKS, HEALTH CLINICS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERSTHUS BUILDING HOLISTIC PATHWAYS FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, SENIORS, AND MORE TO ACCESS RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE FOOD LIKE PRODUCE, MEATS, AND PANTRY STAPLES. IN 2022, 1,656 PEOPLE VISITED THE MOBILE MARKET AND PURCHASED OVER 10,000 POUNDS OF LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE AT COST. NOTABLY, SINCE 2019 URBAN HARVEST HAS MANAGED AND OPERATED THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKET. HOWEVER, IN 2022 URBAN HARVEST HANDED OVER MANAGEMENT TO COMMUNITY LEADERS, ENSURING THE MARKET REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY THAT IT SERVES. NOW, URBAN HARVEST PARTNERS WITH THESE LEADERS TO BRING THE MOBILE MARKET TO THE MONTHLY EVENT THAT INCLUDES VENDORS AND PRODUCTS FROM THE COMMUNITY.

THE SATURDAY FARMERS MARKET PROGRAM MADE PROGRESS TOWARDS BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE AND DIVERSE SPACE FOR ALL, FROM PRODUCERS TO CONSUMERS. THANKS TO SUPPORT FROM THE USDA, 64% OF OUR NEW VENDORS IDENTIFIED AS SOCIAL MINORITIES, JOINING OUR FAST-GROWING NETWORK OF 124 HYPER-LOCAL FOOD ENTREPRENEURS, INCLUDING 50 FARMERS AND RANCHERS. IN ADDITION, NEARLY 40,000 PEOPLE VISITED THE FARMERS' MARKET IN 2022, MAKING IT THE REGION'S LARGEST AND MOST POPULAR MARKET.

SEE SCHEDULE O.URBAN HARVEST'S EDUCATION PROGRAM INCLUDES CLASSES AND YOUTH EDUCATION. URBAN HARVEST TAUGHT 83 CLASSES REACHING OVER 800 PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT AGES, BACKGROUNDS, AND ABILITIES. URBAN HARVEST ALSO HOSTED ITS FIRST WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE. OVER ONE HUNDRED ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMEN CAME TOGETHER TO HEAR FROM A VARIETY OF EXPERTS ON SUSTAINABLE URBAN GARDENING AND SMALL ACREAGE FARMING. URBAN HARVEST'S YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM USES SCHOOL GARDENS AS OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS TO MAKE REAL-LIFE TOPICS SUCH AS SCIENCE, ECOLOGY, AND HEALTHY EATING DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO STUDENTS' DAILY CHOICES. THIS PROGRAM ENCOURAGED 4,404 SCHOOL STUDENTS TO GROW, HARVEST, PREPARE, AND EAT AN AVERAGE OF 16 CROPS. IN ADDITION, THE EDIBLE ACADEMY, OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP FOR EDUCATORS, REACHED 44 EDUCATORS AND OTHER SCHOOL MEMBERS WHO WILL GO ON TO TEACH AN ESTIMATED 220 TEACHERS AND 5,496 STUDENTS THE BENEFITS OF GARDENING AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE BEHAVIORS.

IN 2022, URBAN HARVEST'S NETWORK OF COMMUNITY GARDENS GREW TO INCLUDE 190+ GARDENS, 53% OF WHICH ARE LOCATED AT SCHOOLS. URBAN HARVEST DISTRIBUTED 9,649 TRANSPLANTS AS WELL AS 900 FRUIT TREES, SEEDS, MICROLIFE FERTILIZER, AND GARDEN EDUCATION TO AFFILIATE GARDENS AT NO COST. MOREOVER, 291 VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED 1,919.65 HOURS SUPPORTING OUR WORK THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.