A local youth job-training program has opened a summer market stand in downtown Bellingham.

We Grow (formerly known as Youth Grown), a collaboration between Northwest Youth Services and Washington State University’s Whatcom County Extension Program, is a seed-to-market vocational readiness program for at-risk and homeless youth.

By participating in We Grow, youth gain hands-on experience working as part of a team in planting, growing and harvesting food that they then sell at an on-site market stand, as well as to local restaurants. In the process, they engage with community volunteers, learn how to grow and prepare healthy food, gain self-confidence and develop important job skills that they can take with them into the workforce.

The We Grow market stand, which opened for the season on July 16, will operate from 2-4 p.m. every Tuesday throughout the summer. It is located at 1020 N. State St. in Bellingham.

Northwest Youth Services is online at www.nwys.org.