Fall Philanthropy Report: Urban Harvest Farmers Market Helps ‘Transform Food Accessibility’
Oct. 8, 2024
What year was your organization launched? Urban Harvest’s Saturday Farmers Market started in 2004 with just seven vendors, providing an outlet for local farms, community and backyard gardeners to sell fresh produce harvested directly from their soils. Now in its 20th year, the market has grown to be one of the largest markets in Texas, supporting over 100 local farmers, ranchers, and food artisans all from within 180 miles of Houston. The market draws 3,000 customers every Saturday morning and includes many original vendors like Animal Farm, Atkinson Farms, and Wood Duck Farm.
The Urban Harvest’s Farmers Market Program supports real, fresh food and the hardworking people who grow it. The market is more than just a place to shop, it’s a gathering place where friends and families meet up each at Urban Harvest, kids grow up knowing where their food comes from, and new friendships are forged.
What is your mission? The mission of Urban Harvest is to be a catalyst in transforming food accessibility in Greater Houston. Urban Harvest aims to achieve this by fostering strong partnerships with local farmers and gardeners, operating vibrant Farmers Markets, initiating mobile markets, and providing comprehensive garden education.
What is your vision? Their vision is not just to improve, but to transform the way communities engage with and access fresh, locally sourced food. Through these efforts, Urban Harvest aspires to set a national example, showcasing how innovative community collaboration can lead to sustainable change in food systems across the country.
How have you impacted the community?
In 2023 -
• Urban Harvest Farmers Market brought together over 100 local farmers, ranchers, gardeners and food artisans to sell their products directly to Houstonians
• Urban Harvest Farmers Market hosted over 45,000 shoppers
• Urban Harvest matched $25,000 in Double Up Food Bucks, allowing those who use SNAP/EBT to get $1 in fresh fruits and veggies for each $1 spent, up to $40 daily
• Approximately 45% of Urban Harvest vendors identified as social minorities and Urban Harvest continue to strive to grow the Farmers Market diversity. In addition, 50% of shoppers identify as a BIPOC.
Tell us about your big event. Urban Harvest invites Houstonians to break bread during their 30th Anniversary Sunday Supper hosted at St. John’s School on Sunday, November 3rd, 2024. The evening will be a celebration of local food, culinary excellence and the communities Urban Harvest serves. Thirteen of Houston’s most esteemed chefs will lend their unique talents during a multi-course, family-style meal created in partnership with local ranchers and farmers. Proceeds from this unforgettable farm-to-table experience will benefit the programs of Urban Harvest: Farmers Markets, Community Gardens, Youth Education, Food Access, and Gardening Classes.
What are you most proud of? Every year the small but mighty organization serves over 45,000 farmers market patrons and over 100 small food business; nearly 5,000 students and teachers in socially vulnerable Areas; 3,823 community gardeners preserving over 34 acres of greenspace; over 2,000 Mobile Market customers, 78% of which are in underserved neighborhoods; and educates over 900 individuals who participate in year-round organic gardening classes.
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A RECORD 486 party animals donned their most boo-tiful and spookiest costumes to celebrate the Houston SPCA’s 100th anniversary at its annual Howl-O-Ween Ball.
Chaired by Zane and Brady Carruth, the evening started with a ghoulish reception that included magicians and fortune tellers in the Equine Rescue Arena that was decorated to look like a haunted mansion — floating candles and ghost dancers included! The horse barn was open for photo ops, and some of the horses wore costumes to partake in the night’s festivities.
Emcee Deborah Duncan welcome the crowd before it was time for a spellbinding three-course dinner as TUTS dancers performed “I Put a Spell on You”. Bone-appetit!
The live auction included a game in the Buzbee Suite at Kyle Field; a night out with Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud; a weekend getaway for at a Galveston beach house; and the opportunity to experience a release of rehabilitated bald eagles.
After dinner, “cocktails, cuddles and cookies” were available in the dog and cat adoption area, where sweet pups and kittens were available for petting and holding. The fab-boo-lous evening raised $1.3 million for those animals in need.
Allison and Jim Bagley
Bill Boyce, Ray Echevarria, Bruce Lundstrom, Scott Davenport
Carl and Cindy Bohannon
Deborah Duncan & Duncan Horner
John and Terry Johnson
Kristen & Mike Kelly
Brady and Zane Carruth
Hannah Barker, Ashley Nguyen
Cathy and Larry Kelley
Chris & Susan Dray
Hershey Grace and Ed McMahon
Ryan & Katherine DeLongchamps
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WANT TO FEEL like a kid again? Fall into these fun and spooky eats and drinks, win a costume contest, and indulge in seasonal sweets!
Auden
Not Your Nana's Martini at Auden (photo by Jordan Hughes)
Auden is getting into the Halloween spirit with special spooky drinks and an all-day happy hour on Thursday, Oct. 31. The sophisticated Autry Park restaurant will be mixing up enchanting concoctions on Halloween day, such as Vampire Kiss with raspberry liqueur and champagne. Patrons can toast to All Hallows Eve with the Purple People Eater with blue Curacao and white rum, or the Witches Brew, an elixir of pear liqueur and smoked jalapeno tequila. Auden is open Thursday, Oct. 31, from 5pm to 10pm.
Aye Candy
Cocosol cocktail at Aye Candy (photo by George Villa)
This hidden speakeasy is offering a wickedly fun time on Halloween with a costume contest. Judges will vote based on creativity and overall look, awarding $1,000 to the 1st place winner, $500 to 2nd place, and $250 to 3rd place. DJ Jaime Martinez is set to spin spooktacular tunes, while guests can gnosh on Halloween skull and ghost strawberries from Chocolate Dippin. Bewitching beverages for the night include the Panama Spice Carajillo, with choice of whiskey, tequila or rum, then blended with Arroz con Pina, a traditional Panamanian horchata infused with sweet pineapple and cinnamon. The Wonkatini is a dreamy blend of vodka, creme de vanille, Licor 43, chocolate, heavy creamy, Ghirardelli white chocolate, and garnished with a spooky chocolate eye from Mostly Chocolate. Open on Thursday, Oct. 31, from 5pm to 2am. The costume contest is at 10pm.
Brennan's of Houston
Brennan's Witchy Brunch
Ghouls just gotta have fun! Eat, drink, be mischievous, and head to Houston’s iconic Cajun/Creole palace for the Witchy Brunch featuring a three-course meal with favorites like turtle soup and Eggs Brennan (and a complimentary cocktail!). Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 713.522.9711. Available 11am-2pm Friday, October 25, and Sunday, October 27.
Buttermilk Baby
A Halloween ice cream toppings bar awaits: Buttermilk Baby in M-K-T Heights will serve its Carvel soft-serve with a special Halloween-themed pop-up toppings bar on the patio from noon to 6pm Saturday, Oct. 26. Come to lap it up during the beautiful fall weather!
Dandelion Cafe
Coffee at Dandelion (photo by Becca Wright)
Magical things are happening at Dandelion Cafe this Halloween. Now through Oct. 31, the cafe’s three locations will serve two whimsical, lush ube lattes to celebrate the holiday. Guests can choose between the Witches Brew, a purple ube latte with oat milk served hot or cold, or the Spooky Ube, an ube-flavored frozen drink with crushed Oreo cookies and topped with crushed Oreos and whipped cream.
The Cursed Cauldron
Cocktails at Cursed Cauldron
Step into another world where witches rule and magic thrives. On Halloween, guests can compete in a spellbinding costume contest with first place receiving a $250 cash prize for the most impressive/elaborate costume. Prizes will also be given for People’s Choice and Most Magical.
This traveling pop-up is at Aero Cocktail Co. for its second year, bringing enchanted vibes to Houston. Guests will be fully immersed in the experience with specially designed decor and themed drinks such as Freyja’s Cup, a Skyy Blood Orange Vodka cocktail with strawberry, rose, honey, lemon and Fever Tree Ginger Beer, or Old Magick with Redemption Rye Whiskey, black sesame, vanilla and sinnamon smoke. No ghouls need to leave hungry, as Aero Cocktail Co. provides savory bites like Char-Boo-terie Boards, Hocus Pocus Popcorn and Paranormal Pizza. Open through Nov. 2, from Tuesdays-Saturdays, 4pm-12am, and Sundays from 2pm-10pm. “Witches Hour” is 4pm-6pm from Tuesday-Friday with $10 cocktails & 25 percent off food.
Feges BBQ
Halloween Spooktacular at Feges BBQ's Spring Branch location
Houston families can kick off Halloween festivities at Feges BBQ Spring Branch’s annual Halloween Spooktacular on Oct. 26. The BBQ joint will transform into a spooky spectacle complete with “Cupcake’s Haunted House,” a “Dragon’s Nest” play area, themed bounce house, tarot card readings, pumpkin-decorating ($5 per pumpkin) and more, while Hocus Pocus plays on the restaurant’s TVs. Costumes are encouraged, and a costume contest will award best family costume, best costume under 12 years old, and best costume 12 and up. Feges’ classic Texas BBQ menu will be available along with tantalizing drink specials. The event runs from 3pm-6pm. Entry is free.
Holey Moley Mini Golf
Holey Moley cocktails
Those that have the guts to hit the green can have a ghoulish good time at Holey Moley Mini Golf. Now through Nov. 1, the Caddy Shack bar will be serving spooky cocktails to get into the Halloween spirit including The Dead Duck with Tito’s vodka, pineapple, coconut cream, lime and chamoy, Witches Brew with Tito’s vodka, Triple Sec, lemon, sage and egg whites, and Worms of the Dirt with Tito’s vodka, Nutella, coffee liqueur, cream, and Oreos, plus a Spider Juice shooter with Tito’s vodka, apple pucker, honey and lemon.
Also expect live entertainment including magicians and DJs throughout the two-week celebration, and guests who dress up will receive a ‘treat’ from the team of spooky staff. Booking link here.
Montrose Cheese & Wine
Costume contest at Montrose Cheese & Wine
Do our pets like dressing up for Halloween? Apparently so! Goodnight Hospitality's Montrose Cheese and Wine is hosting their third annual dog costume contest throughout October for guests that come by and enjoy an afternoon or evening on the patio with their dressed-up dog(s). The winner will receive a bag of Olympia provisions dog treats for their pup, and a 6 pack of wine for the human!
Mostly Chocolate
Mostly Chocolates
Houston’s premier chocolatier, Mostly Chocolate, has a delectable array of handcrafted artisanal chocolates that exude autumnal flavors and will taste like fall even if our Houston weather is still catching up.
Shop Halloween by checking out the Trick-or-Treat Chocolate Box (4 or 6 pieces, starting at $14.75) for your Halloweenie sweetie, which includes two seasonal flavors of Lingonberry Oatmeal and Pumpkin Pie. There is also an array of savory sweet treats that are frightfully delightful like Celebration Popcorn, Potato Chips, Pretzels and Fritos or the famous chocolate dipped and decorated Oreos and Rice Krispies. All of these Halloween flavors and Mostly Chocolate classics are available in store or online in Build Your Own Boxes (6, 12, 16, 25 or 36 pieces, starting at $21).
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