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We’re committed to spreading appreciation for the benefits of gardening and helping children understand where their food comes from. We believe this will encourage them to make smart nutritional choices and form better lifelong eating habits. That’s why we chose to support the Welch’s Harvest Grants program, which awarded 100 schools nationwide garden packages filled with tools, seeds, and educational materials. This program gave children a unique, hands-on opportunity to learn where their food comes from and even motivate them to eat more fruits and vegetables.

We received and judged more than 5,500 Harvest Grants applications — further evidence that schools, teachers and parents are eager for students to take an active role in producing their own food and developing healthy eating habits. As part of the program, we visited two of the winning schools and helped students plant their gardens. It was a great opportunity for us to discuss the rewards of planting and growing a garden with the kids and to see some very encouraging school gardening programs well underway in Boston and Atlanta!

Check out the 2010 Welch's Harvest Grant winners.

Get great activity ideas, and read more information on the Welch's Harvest Grant program.

NGA president, Mike Metallo, sat down with the Atlanta-Journal Constitution to talk about the Harvest Grants program and how it corresponds with our youth gardening initiative. Check out the entire interview here.