Fort Bend County Launches U-Pick Program to Support Community and Combat Food Insecurity
This fall, Fort Bend County is offering a unique opportunity for residents to come together, give back, and harvest fresh, healthy food through the Fall Weekly U-Pick Program at Bates Allen Park, located at 630 Charlie Roberts Lane in Kendleton, Texas. Starting Saturday, November 23, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., local residents can visit the park to hand-pick fresh collards, mustards, and radishes from the community garden, all free of charge.
This initiative, which began in 2022, is more than just an opportunity to harvest vegetables—it's a step toward addressing the very real issue of food insecurity in the community. Fort Bend County is partnering with Lucille’s 1913, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting hunger, to offer free harvest bags to participants. The bags will be filled with the greens they pick, as well as fresh holiday ingredients to help families prepare meals during this special time of year. This program, aimed at providing healthy food options, is designed to be accessible to all through a community collaboration on mission to create positive change.
“We’re excited to announce the launch of the U-Pick Community Garden located in Kendleton, Texas, in collaboration with Lucille’s 1913,” said Darren McCarthy, Parks and Recreation Director for Fort Bend County. “It’s a celebration of farm-to-table living, food security, and bringing the community together through fresh food.”
Mobile Sidebar Ad
The U-Pick program will run every Saturday morning until the end of the current crop cycle, giving families the chance to visit week after week. However, due to recent unseasonably warm and dry weather, crop availability may be limited, so residents are encouraged to come early to ensure they can pick the freshest produce available. As the program evolves, organizers will update the public on what’s in season and available to pick.
This program not only provides fresh, nutritious food to families, but also shines a light on the ongoing challenge of food insecurity in Fort Bend County. According to Feeding America, 34,140 children in the area are affected by food insecurity, and nearly 17% of children in the county don’t know where their next meal will come from. Many of these children are ineligible for federal nutrition programs, making community-driven efforts like the U-Pick program all the more vital.
Lucille’s 1913, founded by Chef Chris Williams during the pandemic, has played a key role in addressing food insecurity in the Houston area. Initially focused on providing meals to frontline workers, Lucille’s expanded its mission to support seniors, children, and underserved communities. Now, through farming efforts in Fort Bend County and other Greater Houston areas, Lucille’s is helping families access fresh produce while also building sustainable, long-term solutions for food security.
Darren McCarthy, second from left; Chef Chris Williams, far right; Matt Huffer, Area Community Engagement Coordinator for H-E-B. As Chef Chris Williams puts it, “We are creating more than just a garden—we are building a bridge to better nutrition, stronger communities, and a future where everyone has access to the fresh food they need to thrive.”
For Fort Bend County residents, the U-Pick program offers an opportunity to support the local food system, meet neighbors, and take part in a movement toward food justice. It’s a chance to come together as a community, share in the harvest, and help create lasting change.
For more information on the U-Pick Program and other community initiatives, visit Fort Bend County’s Parks and Recreation Facebook page.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
