When chef Alan Wong was in the fourth grade at Kipapa Elementary School, the Wahiawa Intermediate School band came to play.

"I saw the coronet, the trombone, the clarinet and you know, fourth-graders are so impressionable, when I was in seventh grade, I could choose between music, art and band. I chose band.

"Fourth grade is an important time in a child’s education," he said.

Always on the lookout for new ways to promote local agriculture, Wong discovered one more in Ohio, of all places, while visiting The Chef’s Garden, a farm where chefs and their teams can develop their craft.

The discovery was a packet about Veggie U, a 25-lesson curriculum designed for fourth-graders that combines science, health, language arts and math in a garden kit for the hands-on study of the seed-to-harvest process.

Wong brought back a packet in the hopes that Veggie U could be implemented in schools here.

After much effort from Denise Hayashi Yamaguchi, executive director of the nonprofit Hawaii Agricultural Foundation, the state Department of Education gave the OK, and four public schools are currently trying out the program.

To fund Veggie U in Hawaii, the foundation has launched Localicious Hawaii, a statewide campaign that involves more than 65 restaurants using locally grown, raised or caught products.

Restaurants will identify Localicious menu items with a logo (see page D1) and ask diners to order them. For every dish ordered, restaurants will donate $1 to the Veggie U program. The campaign runs through March 31.

Among participants are Alan Wong’s, 3660 on the Rise, Chef Chai, DK Steak House, Japengo restaurants, Prima, Michel’s, Amasia, Roy’s restaurants, Side Street Inn Kapahulu, Pagoda, Star Noodle, Ama Ama, Real a Gastro Pub, Tiki’s Bar & Grill, town, Hoku’s, VinoItalian Tapas & Wine Bar, Le Bistro, Vintage Cave Honolulu and Zippy’s restaurants.

The goal of Localicious is to raise $50,000. Restaurants that raises $500 will be able to adopt a fourth-grade class participating in Veggie U.

This is a good thing, says Wong, who speaks from experience. His adoption of Keaukaha Elementary in Hilo led to his award-winning book, "The Blue Tomato."

While on a visit to the school, a student asked if he could make blue ketchup. That spirit of possibility became the seed of the book.

"It’s awesome," Wong said of his ties with Keaukaha.

Visit localicioushawaii.com.