Fondy Food Center Dedicates Organic Fruit Orchard Won in Nationwide Competition
Milwaukee-based Fondy Food Center won an organic fruit orchard of up to 40 fruit trees valued at $5,000 for its 80-acre Port Washington farm.
Milwaukee-based Fondy Food Center won an organic fruit orchard of up to 40 fruit trees valued at $5,000 for its 80-acre Port Washington farm in a nationwide competition sponsored by Edy’s Fruit Bars Communities Take Root Program in collaboration with the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. Fruit from the orchard will be sold at the Fondy Farmers Market (2200 W. Fond du Lac Avenue, Milwaukee), making fresh, locally grown organic fruit available to families living in Milwaukee’s central city. On Saturday, September 15, Fondy will dedicate the new orchard at 11 am, followed by a tree planting and party with Fondy staff, volunteers, and representatives from Edy’s Fruit Bars and the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. The dedication and tree planting takes place at Fondy Food Center’s Port Washington farm, 850 County Road P, Port Washington, WI 53074.
Fondy was one of 100 agencies nationwide vying for 17 fruit orchards and the only Wisconsin site. Winners received up to 40 fruit trees and shrubs, an irrigation system, training in organic fruit production methods, volunteer support in planting the orchard, and a groundbreaking party The top 17 winning sites were determined by the number of on-line votes they received between April 16 and August 30, 2012 at the www.communitiestakeroot.com website. Fondy received more than 33,000 user-generated votes online.
The first 30 volunteers to register (via email to Nancy Ketchman at nketchman@fondymarket.org) will receive a free t-shirt and tote bag when they arrive at the Farm.
Schedule of Event
Where: Fondy Farm, 850 County Road P, Port Washington, WI 53074
When: Saturday, September 15, 2012 at 11 am
11:00 am: Project overview and introductions (Fondy Food Center, Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, Edy’s Fruit Bars brand)
11:20 – 11:45 am: Ceremonial Tree Planting/Photo Opportunity
12:00-2:00 pm: Tree planting, Edy’s Fruit Bars sampling, volunteer party.
“The Fondy Farm in Port Washington is an important part of our mission to connect Greater Milwaukee to local, healthy food – from the farm to the table,” says Young Kim, Fondy Food Center’s Executive Director. “Winning this orchard will allow our farmers, most of whom are low-income, predominantly immigrant farmers, the opportunity to plant and grow fruit trees and shrubs using organic growing methods. And just as important, these farmers will turn around and sell this fruit to families on Milwaukee’s North Side at the Fondy Farmers Market. Many of our Market shoppers have very little access to fresh, affordable, locally grown organic fruit in their neighborhoods.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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