In celebration of Nutrition Month 2025, Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc.–Basic Education Department proudly launched a community-centered, sustainability-focused activity called the Fresh Produce Procurement Task. The initiative aligned with this year’s national theme, “𝘚𝘢 𝘗𝘗𝘈𝘕: 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘢-𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘕𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘵 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘓𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘵,” and brought together students, parents, teachers, and local vendors in an interactive and purposeful experience.

The activity aimed to go beyond conventional classroom learning. Students were challenged to visit the local public market to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables within a set budget—ingredients that would be used the following day for their Cooking Showdown competition. But more than just a market run, the Fresh Produce Procurement Task served as a platform to teach practical life skills, budget management, and nutritional awareness, while encouraging meaningful connections with the broader community.

What set this initiative apart was its collaborative nature. Parents served as mentors and guides, accompanying their children through the market and offering insights on selecting quality produce. Local market vendors, meanwhile, became resource persons—sharing their knowledge of seasonal crops and sustainable food practices. Teachers facilitated the activity by linking these real-life experiences to broader learning goals.

The task supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2: Zero Hunger, by promoting access to nutritious food and food education; SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, through encouraging healthy lifestyle choices; SDG 4: Quality Education, by offering students hands-on, experiential learning that fosters lifelong skills and real-world awareness; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, by strengthening community ties and supporting local economies; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, through sustainable sourcing and reduced food waste; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by involving multiple stakeholders such as parents, teachers, and local vendors in collaborative learning experiences.

According to the Basic Education faculty, the activity wasn’t just about food—it was about values, choices, and connection. “𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘪𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦,” one teacher shared.

At its core, the Fresh Produce Procurement Task embodies HCCCI's commitment to holistic and community-based education. It shows how learning becomes more impactful when done in partnership with families, local industries, and the environment, and how these small, real-world tasks can plant seeds for a healthier, more sustainable future.

As the Cooking Showdown approaches, students carry with them more than just fresh ingredients. They bring newfound appreciation for local food systems, stronger family bonds, and a deeper understanding of how small acts contribute to global goals.

𝘼𝙩 𝙃𝘾𝘾𝘾𝙄, 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢—𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮!