By The Houston ISD Food and Agriculture Literacy Program was created to help students and families in the district better understand agriculture and nutrition. Its goal is to educate a new generation to be conscious of their dietary choices and their broader implications. It is a hands-on learning approach focused on agriculture, nutrition, culinary arts, and environmental science.
The Food and Agriculture Literacy Center sits on 6.5 acres on the historic 100-year-old Mykawa School, one of the oldest in Harris County, and is located at 6401 Almeda Genoa Road in Houston in the Sunnyside neighborhood.
The road and the school are named for Shinpei Mykawa, a Japanese immigrant who brought rice farming to Houston.
Students engage in gardening tasks from planting to harvest allowing them to see how fruits and vegetables are grown. They not only learn about the nutritional benefits of food but also how it can be turned into delicious meals.
The program empowers students and the community with the knowledge to make informed food choices and the impact of those choices on health, the community, and the environment. It includes activities, such as cooking classes, nutritional education, and lessons on sustainable agriculture.
By enhancing food literacy, HISD helps students develop a deeper appreciation for the food they harvest and the processes involved in its production and distribution.
The comprehensive approach not only promotes healthier eating habits but also gives students a greater sense of responsibility toward food sustainability and its impact on community well-being.
The program has grown in recent years since it began, hosting students on field trips to the farm. During the 2022-23 school year, the farm was visited by 1,572, and it yielded 2,752 pounds of produce.
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