The651.com

Your ticket to a sustainable summer is just a neighborhood away tonight as El Burrito Mercado, the Youth Farm and Market Project and the Riverview Economic Development Association team up to bring locally-grown organic produce to Saint Paul. Now in its 15^th year, the Twin Cities-based youth development organization is dedicated to building youth leadership by involving the kids in every dirt-ridden, gritty step of growth and harvest, from planting pepper seeds to preparing, cooking, and selling the final product. Made possible by generous grants from Ecolab and SuperValu, the project is a hands-on way to make organic, high-quality produce accessible, keep money flowing through the local economy and engage the community’s youth while connecting them to their food and the environment.

Early today, the mini-entrepreneur Youth Farm kids were busy harvesting their veggies and transporting them to West Side restaurant, El Burrito Mercado, to be snatched up by families and residents all over Saint Paul.

This year, the Youth Farm project will feature special tasty menu items prepared with produce straight from the West Side Youth Farmers at neighborhood restaurants including Boca Chica, Jerabek’s New Bohemian, and St. Paul’s artisan bakery, Bread, Coffee and Cake. Head down to the District del Sol tonight for a first hand look at the fresh produce available through early fall, snack on delicious appetizers and get to know your talented budding farmers.

Youth Farm and Market Project Happy Hour Kick-off

Wednesday, August 4 at 6pm

El Cafe at El Burrito Mercado, 175 Cesar Chavez St., St. Paul, 651.227.2192

Want to know more about the project? Check out this adorable short documentary about the Youth Farm and Market Project: