Landscape Architect Articles

OCGP Donates Tons of Fresh Food08-07-09 | News

OCGP Donates Tons of Fresh Food

The Orange County Great Park?EUR??,,????'?????<Images courtesy of the OCGP

Requests for emergency food assistance have doubled as a result of the economic crisis, causing a food shortage at local food banks. Help has come from an unexpected source. The Orange County Food Bank reports that they have received 100 tons of fresh fruits and vegetables from the Orange County Great Park community farm and from neighboring farms around the Great Park.

Mark Lowry, Director of the Orange County Food Bank said, ?EUR??,,????'?????<

At retail prices, the Farm & Food Lab has produced crops with a retail value in excess of $30,000. Second Harvest and the Orange County Food Bank have expressed extreme gratitude to the Great Park, especially with the current economic downturn and serious shortage in food supplies. A well managed, productive 80-acre farm can produce enough food in one year to meet the produce and fruit nutritional needs for 30,000 people!

The Great Park is located on the site of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. During the process of transforming the former military base into a large municipal park, agricultural production is one of several approved interim activities. Current development plans for the Great Park include between 100 to 150 acres that could host a variety of agricultural uses and programming, including a community farm and agricultural production. That decision will give local food banks ongoing access to locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables for the poor.