SAN ANTONIO – The Young Women’s Leadership Academy was awarded a $57,000 USDA Farm to School Turnkey Edible Gardens Grant.

The award will help develop the Smart Farm on the campus, which currently has 12-raised beds, two pollinator gardens, a 100-tree fruit orchard, a small greenhouse, and three production areas.

According to the San Antonio ISD Facebook, local chefs will be visiting the campus to teach the students how to prepare the produce in the garden.

Extra produce will be either donated to local food banks or sold through farmers' markets, allowing the chance for students to participate in aspects of small-business ownership.

As part of Monday's celebration of the grant, SAISD Superintendent Aquino joined the Blue Jay Senators in planting a commemorative pomegranate tree.