Home Grown: Local program plants seeds of agriculture in kids minds

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - In today's Home Grown, an agriculture program called Southwest Ag (SWAG) is planting a little seed in young minds.

Tracey Waters from the University of Arizona Yuma County Cooperative Extension visits about 22 schools in Crane Elementary School District, Yuma School District One and Somerton School District.

Students kindergarten through fifth grade practice sorting and categorizing fruits, vegetables and other crops.

Even though agriculture is such a prominent industry in Yuma County, many kids don't know the process behind getting food on their plate.

"A lot of kids, when I go into the classroom and I'll ask them where something comes from, 'it comes from Fry's or Albertsons.' So, they don't really necessarily understand that their food comes from the farm," Waters explained. "And also, I think we can best teach our adults and our parents through our children."

Some of their lessons include medjool dates, cotton, food safety and wheat.

This semester, they are focusing on iceberg lettuce.