SAN JUAN, Texas — The Rio Grande Valley’s only organic vegetable farmers market will expand this weekend to provide a fun-filled day of healthy activities for the whole family on April 18, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist.
“Several health and community service organizations in the area will be joining us this Saturday to celebrate healthy living,” said AgriLife Extension’s Barbara Storz. “In addition to the fresh organic vegetables for sale, we’ll have a dance team performing, a clown, face-painting, door prizes, free health screening, an obstacle course for kids, free goodies and lots of information on how to lead a healthy lifestyle.”
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at North San Juan Park, 511 E. Earling (the Nolana extension) between Raul Longoria and Cesar Chavez roads, two miles east of U.S. 281. Admission is free.
Storz said the healthy aspect of the organic farmers market she created has caught the attention and participation of the local health community.
“This organic farmers market started out as a way for low-income families to grow produce on their properties and start their own small businesses,” she said. “But there’s also the other side of the coin, whereby our customers benefit from consuming fresh, healthy vegetables. Several health-oriented organizations admired our efforts and volunteered to help, and they will in a huge way this Saturday.”
The organizations participating and their activities include: the Texas Department of Health (vegetable hopscotch; Hidalgo County Health Department (information on child immunizations); Texas Women, Infants and Children organization (free exercise DVDs, jump ropes and bottled water); and Valley Primary Care Network (free healthy snacks), Storz said.
Other participants and activities include the Edinburg Folklorico Dance Team, under the direction of Rebeka Gonzalez, that will perform at 10:30 a.m.; HEB will hold a drawing for free groceries; Ashley Pediatrics will set up a mobile health unit to provide free health screenings; and AgriLife Extension will lead participants in a brisk “Walk Across Texas” in the park’s walking trail.
Several service organizations will be on hand to provide information on their community services, including the Valley Association for Independent Living, the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, 4-H Youth clubs and the Girl Scouts.
“We’re overwhelmed by the voluntary participation of so many organizations at our farmers market,” Storz said. “The festivities will begin with a welcome by Hidalgo County Commissioner Hector Palacios, followed by a presentation on diabetes by Dr. Enrique Griego.
The farmers market, now in its second year, is a creation of Grow’n Growers, an AgriLife Extension program organized by Storz that teaches low-income residents how to grow organic vegetables on their own properties, then sell them at the area’s only organic farmers market.
Fifteen families who joined the program organized a farmers’ cooperative known as Familias Productores del Valle, or Family Producers of the Valley.
Whole red leaf lettuce, Romaine lettuce, cabbage, onions, carrots, beets, radish, greens, celery, fresh and dried herbs and family baskets of vegetables will be for sale at the event, Storz said.
“North San Juan Park is a beautiful facility, but this Saturday promises to be an even greater time to be there for the entire family. And last but not least, HEB’s Buddy the clown will be there to welcome everybody to a fun day of celebrating healthy living,” she said.
