BY BARBARA STORZ
The Growing Growers Farmers Market has partnered with the South Texas Literacy Coalition to hold a free Family Health Literacy Festival from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday to help children and their families learn about good health habits and nutrition.
The farmers market is located at McAllen’s Firemen’s Park at the corner of Business 83 and 1st Street.
A South Texas Literacy Coalition staff member will read the book “Growing Vegetable Soup” and will act out some of the material from the book. This book, authored by Lois Ehlert, is suitable for early elementary and elementary youth.
Students from the National Honor Society of Edinburg High School will assist in hands-on activities with the children. Activities will include a coloring station for younger children, a bookmark-making station and a make-a-book station, where older children can write and illustrate a book of their own.
Chef Shari Guzman will prepare vegetable soup and provide information for the families on why each vegetable is important for our health. Children will have a chance to sample the vegetable soup and each child will receive a copy of the book. Additionally, they may select an additional book from a display provided by the South Texas Literacy Coalition. The children’s books are being sponsored by the Rio Grande Regional Hospital.
“Hands-on activities are a great way to reinforce learning and we want to encourage families and children to read this summer,” said Ida Acuna-Garza, Executive Director of the Literacy Coalition. “The ability to read effectively is key to our quality of life.”
Activities for this free event will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m.
The South Texas Literacy Coalition is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families by providing literacy resources. For more information on how you can donate to the South Texas Literacy Coalition, visit www.southtexaslitcoalition.org.
The Growing Growers Farmers Market is a weekly farmers market providing locally grown produce, pastured meat and dairy, and farm products since 2008. Members of the market are committed to improving the health and nutrition of south Texas families by holding regular food demonstrations, cooking classes and educational events, as well as, providing recipes for healthy ways to prepare seasonal vegetables. The market is open from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday. For more information, call (956) 330-6410 or visit the farmer’s market Facebook page.
Barbara Storz is a local horticulturist. You can listen to her garden show at 7 a.m. Saturdays on 710 KURV Radio, or contact her via e-mail at [email protected].
