The best part about our recent school garden build was the excitement for it. We received more than 3,000 applications from schools across the country. That's amazing. And it shows there is an appetite for school gardens and outdoor learning.

Together with community volunteers and Sprouts Farmers Markets employees, we recently built 24 gardens at 24 schools across the country. As a foundation mission-driven to support and "sprout" school gardens, we're proud to call attention to this initiative on #worldfoodday.

Sprouts shoppers: Are you rounding up at the checkout? When you do, you're supporting the Sprouts Foundation and our mission to "sprout" school gardens. Your support means we can support educators and plant a valuable seed with young farmers about the importance of eating local.

If you see a farmer's market table manned by teachers and students, buy something! Supporting the youngest growers in the community supports their love for producing and selling local goods!

Proposals for presentations and lightning talks at the School Garden Summit in March are due by July 31! Here's the link to submit: schoolgardensummit.org/call-…