Creating sustainable solutions means reducing food waste. The Culled Produce Recovery Program diverts thousands of pounds of produce each week from landfills to local farmers and families in need. A local company dedicated to transporting recyclable food products delivers the past-prime fruits and vegetables from a regional grocery chain to participating urban farms, which is then used as compost for future productions. Perfectly edible produce that might normally have been discarded to make room for new products is delivered to area organizations and Good For You Pantry locations.

With a goal of enhancing access to fresh produce and healthy foods in underserved areas, Texas Health supports urban farms and farmers markets, promotes collaborative partnerships between growers, distributors, and retailers, and encourages policies that remove barriers to nutritious food.

Texas Health works with schools and communities across North Texas to build and maintain learning gardens in an effort to teach children the benefits of growing their own food. The Pathways Learning Garden & Outdoor Activities program – developed by school garden educators and available to area schools and neighborhoods – supports these efforts with more than 30 outdoor and indoor activities and lessons. Grants provide additional support through a full-time school garden educator who assists schools with garden planning, curriculum and lesson planning, goal setting, grant writing, and engaging families and the community to maintain the gardens. Community and corporate partners also help provide volunteer support, equipment, and planting resources.