Officials from the City of Columbia, Corporation for Economic Opportunity, a representative from The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation and Edy’s Fruit Bars, and Sustainable Midlands will hold a planting ceremony for the community fruit tree orchard beginning at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, November 5.

Columbia is one of only 20 cities in the nation to win a free fruit orchard in 2011. Columbia will plant between 40-60 fruit trees that will be planted at Owens Field Park, 1351 Jim Hamilton Boulevard.

The orchard is being sponsored by the Communities Take Root Program. Communities Take Root is an annual program to provide neighborhood residents with locally- grown sources of fresh fruit by planting fruit tree orchards in deserving communities throughout the United States. Communities Take Root is sponsored by Edy’s Fruit Bars and the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to planting fruit trees to support healthy nutrition worldwide.

The City partnered with the Corporation for Economic Opportunity ( CEO) to win the free orchard. CEO, a nonprofit which seeks to enhance the economic status and quality of life in communities, using environmentally beneficial strategies, submitted an application to the Communities Take Root Program in March 2011.

Approximately 60 volunteers have been recruited to assist with the planting ceremony. A workshop will be held for the volunteers followed by the planting of the fruit trees. A potluck luncheon will be held at City Roots for volunteers.