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Tucson’s Sprouts House Combines Gardening, Cooking, and STEM

Photo courtesy of Sprouts Farmers Market

Tucson’s Sprouts House Combines Gardening, Cooking, and STEM

Oct 29, 20251 min read

[10/30/2025 edit: updated article to remove information on the private grand opening event]

The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation will celebrate the opening of the new Sprouts House on Friday, Nov. 7, at Mansfeld Magnet Middle School.

Through a partnership with the University of Arizona School Garden Workshop and Tucson Unified School District, Sprouts House transforms two University-owned buildings into a community classroom and commercial kitchen. The new facilities sit beside a greenhouse and production garden.

A Community Hub for Healthy Learning

Together, the spaces will serve as a hands-on learning hub for 800 Mansfeld students, as well as University of Arizona students and local educators. Each year, Sprouts House will support about 150 educators, 150 university students, and more than 6,000 K–12 students through programs focused on nutrition, sustainability, and STEM learning.

Lyndsey Waugh, executive director of the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, said the project reflects Sprouts’ mission to “create healthier futures for children through education and access to nutritious foods.”

Growing a Healthier Tucson

Since its launch in 2015, the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation has awarded more than $50 million in grants to support programs that teach nutrition and wellness. Nationwide, an estimated 5 million children benefit from foundation-supported initiatives each year.

Locally, the new Tucson project strengthens ties between Sprouts Farmers Market, Tucson schools, and the University of Arizona, highlighting the shared goal of helping communities thrive through fresh, healthy food.

For more information, visit sprouts.com/foundation.

Article written by:

Jackie Tran

Jackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer and photographer. Best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.

Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments and petting pets.

If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.

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