Radishes grown by Wilkinson Elementary School students.
The Importance of Growing Fresh Food
Food security has always been a deeply personal issue for me, though one of my earliest “experiences” with it is more of a funny family story than an actual memory. When I was two or three years old, I apparently burst into tears because my dad told me there was nothing to eat at home. The story goes that the pantry was far from empty—my dad’s culinary skills just didn’t go beyond toast and oatmeal. There were plenty of ingredients to make a decent meal, and my mom was literally at the grocery store when this “crisis” unfolded. It’s a story that’s been retold countless times in my family, always good for a laugh, but it stuck with me in a different way. That little tale became the spark that made me think more deeply about food access and security as I grew older.
Years later, as a parent, I’ve made it a point to share the importance of food access with my own children. We volunteer for the Mayor’s Feed the Hungry Campaign, support our local food bank, and pack food backpacks for low-income, at-risk students. I thought I had a solid grasp on what food scarcity meant—until I realized it’s more complex than I imagined.
Consider this: between 17.1 million and 53.6 million people in the U.S. live in food deserts—areas with limited access to fresh, healthy food. Beyond food insecurity, millions face restricted access to fresh produce simply because of where they live. Adding to the challenge, we lose millions of acres of farmland to urban sprawl each year, while demand for agricultural products grows by 2% annually. To meet this demand with fewer resources, we must produce food more efficiently, with innovations like vertical farming, hydroponics, aquaponics, and container farming offering part of the solution.
Here’s the real issue: food scarcity isn’t just about supply. The U.S. is a wealthy nation with the resources and resilience to feed its people. What we’re losing is the knowledge—the basic skills of growing, harvesting, and preparing food. Many students, especially in areas where food deserts are common, don’t know how to plant a seed, care for it, or turn fresh produce into a meal. It’s not unlike my dad’s situation all those years ago—having food but lacking the know-how to turn it into something nourishing. Ask an elementary school student where a carrot comes from, and you’ll often hear, “the grocery store.”
At the Green Jean Foundation, we’re working to change that. Our mission is to teach students the value of agricultural education—empowering them with the skills to grow their own food, understand where it comes from, and appreciate the role agriculture plays in their lives. Together, we can tackle food scarcity locally and improve access to nutritious food globally. Because food security isn’t just about having enough to eat—it’s about knowing how to grow, share, and sustain it for generations to come.
Rachael Witherspoon, Education Director
The Need for School Gardens
Food scarcity impacts millions of Americans, with over 34 million experiencing food insecurity and 40.5 million living in food deserts where access to fresh, nutritious food is limited. Compounding the issue, the U.S. loses nearly 1.8 million acres of farmland annually while demand for agricultural products continues to rise.
At the Green Jean Foundation, we believe the solution begins with education. Through school gardens, hands-on agricultural learning, and cooking classes, we aim to equip students—especially those in urban areas—with the skills to grow, harvest, and prepare their own food. These experiences not only foster a deeper understanding of agriculture but also empower the next generation to combat food scarcity and create a more sustainable future.
As of this newsletter, the Green Jean Foundation has successfully installed several school gardens, giving more than 2,000 elementary school students—41% of whom come from economically disadvantaged families—a chance to connect with the origins of their food. These gardens are more than educational tools—they’re opportunities to inspire a new generation to value agriculture and take steps toward a more food-secure future.
You can help us make an even bigger impact! Volunteer your time, spread the word, or get involved in a local school garden project. Together, we can empower young minds and create a thriving community of future food leaders.
Nutrient Density
Be sure to tune into this week's Modern Farming podcast for the second of the three-part "You Are What you Eat" series - and be sure tune in next week for special guest Erin Martin!
What is nutrient density and why does it matter? Check out our new blog post to learn more.
