A program launched by the Baja California state government is helping thousands of families improve their diets by teaching children and parents how to grow their own nutritious food.
The School and Community Gardens program, run through the Baja California branch of the DIF social services agency, aims to promote balanced nutrition, particularly among children and teenagers. The initiative currently includes 68 active gardens across the state and benefits approximately 12,300 people, according to DIF Baja California president Mavis Olmeda García.
Participants learn practical skills to grow vegetables in schools and community spaces, giving families direct access to fresh, healthy food while building long-term knowledge about nutrition and self-sufficiency.
State officials say the program aligns with Mexico’s national “Vida Saludable” (Healthy Living) strategy promoted by President Claudia Sheinbaum, which focuses on strengthening public health through early prevention.
“This is about helping children develop healthy eating habits that support proper growth and long-term well-being,” Governor Marina del Pilar said. “By starting in schools, those habits extend naturally into the home.”
San Quintín leads the state with 25 gardens, followed by Mexicali with 24. Ensenada has seven, Tijuana four, San Felipe and Playas de Rosarito three each, and Tecate two.
The governor highlighted the program’s impact at Revolución Mexicana Elementary School in San Quintín, where students learn not only how to grow vegetables such as beets, squash, and broccoli, but also basic agricultural practices including weed control, pruning techniques, and food safety.
“The approach is comprehensive,” she said. “Families learn how to plant and harvest, but also how to sell surplus produce, creating additional income for households and schools while supporting both physical and emotional well-being.”
Officials say the program is already contributing to lasting changes in eating habits, giving families the tools and confidence to produce their own food or generate modest income through small-scale sales.
The expansion of the 68 gardens has been supported by partnerships with the Baja California Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the federal Office of Agricultural and Marine Technology Education, which provide technical guidance and essential supplies to ensure successful harvests.
