Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Office of Sustainability, Florida Organic Growers and the Citizen’s Co-op are hosting a Fall Planting Event in honor of World Food Day on Tuesday, October 16, 2012, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Downtown Farmers Garden (12 SE 1st Street, Gainesville, west side of building, adjacent to Main Street). Afterwards, guests are invited to a screening of the short film “Locally Grown: The Lexington Co-op Market Story” at 7 p.m., at the Citizen’s Co-op (435 S Main St, Gainesville). Participants of the Fall Planting Event will help to seed winter season’s crop, and gain hands-on knowledge about gardening’s community-wide benefit. The event is free and open to the public.

The theme of this year’s World Food Day is agricultural cooperatives. Cooperatives provide a unique way for local farmers to share their resources and bring the community closer to their food.

Vegetables grown at the Downtown Farmer’s Garden are given to local charities in an effort to combat hunger and food scarcity in our community. 

“We’re proud of our volunteers and grateful for their hundreds of hours of donated time,” says Sean McLendon, Alachua County Sustainability Program Manager. Continuing, he says, “Growing your own food gives you a deep appreciation of what it takes to farm for a living and the economic benefits local food brings to Alachua County.”

For more information, contact Sean McLendon, at 352-548-3765 or smclendon@alachuacounty.us.