For the first time ever, the Second Harvest Food Bank will be able to provide fresh produce from its own back yard.

On Monday, volunteers helped the non-profit plant 40 fruit trees outside of the organization's distribution center.

"One of the highest requested items for the food bank is fresh foods," said Second Harvest Food Bank Advocacy Coordinator Celeste Makay. "Fresh produce is one of the most critical (foods) to give people the nutrients and nutritious foods that they need."
Second Harvest Food Bank will soon be a producers of apples, peaches, and pears.

"Planting a fruit tree does everything we want it to do," said Fruit Tree Planting Foundation Executive Director Cem Akin. "It gives us food, gives us clean air, clean water, clean soil. It helps bring communities together."

Each tree is expected to yield about 50 pounds of fruit, per year.

According to Akin, there's also little upkeep.

"We selected disease-resistant varieties for that reason, so that they are easier to take care of," said Akin. "Once trees get established, they are pretty hardy in the ground. We want to be careful in the establishment period. Once they get healthy in the ground, they are good to go."

The new orchard will allow the food bank to provide fresh fruit to members of the community who are facing food insecurity.

"There has been an increase all of our different types of programs," said Makay. "The amount of clients that are in need of our programs is going up."

This story is supported by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.