Sunday, November 24, 2013

Amid holiday canned-food drives, U.S. food banks take up farming

Chester County Food Bank agricultural director Bill Shick examines young lettuce plants growing in a hydroponic bed in a greenhouse in suburban Philadelphia What he can't tell you is what he would sell it for - because it will all be given away by the Chester County Food Bank in its efforts to grow food for the needy. The fresh produce program gives low-sodium, low-sugar foods to the poorest Americans year-round, including during the holiday season often associated with canned-food drives. "We picked a thousand pounds this weekend and we'll do another thousand next week," Shick, the food bank's agricultural director said, while standing in a greenhouse where the program grows seedlings in a suburban Philadelphia park. Chester County is among about 20 food banks across the country that have started their own farms to boost healthier eating by the needy, said Domenic Vitiello, a University of Pennsylvania professor who has studied food pantry agricultural operations.








via Health News Headlines - Yahoo! News http://news.yahoo.com/amid-holiday-canned-food-drives-u-food-banks-120809501--finance.html

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