HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — If you're looking for access to free fresh fruits and veggies - this is for you! Nearly three months ago, Alabama A&M University and the Madison County Commission signed a five-year agreement for a community garden. Now, some of those crops are ready to be picked! FOX54 headed to the site, located near Alabama A&M on Meridian Street, to see it in action!
Madison County Commission District 6 Harvest Associate Jason Andra said they're growing a variety of crops in the gardens this year. "Currently, we have several different types of squash and green beans ready to harvest. Then soon we'll have other crops - cucumbers, cantaloupe, honeydew, sweet corn, okra, purple hull peas and several others available to harvest."
Madison County District 6 Commissioner Violet Edwards continued that the whole idea behind the community garden originally was twofold: "To address the food scarcity within District 6 and to be a research solution for Alabama A&M. And so there are a lot of communities in Alabama that don't have this. We have this jewel right here in Madison County, where people can come and to get this free food and to take advantage of this opportunity. It just makes it a special place."
On top of that, Commissioner Edwards explained that there's also "Exciting news; so the next step is just our branding and our marketing. We're working with a team and very soon, we hope to announce the new name along with signage and just watching it grow with the evolution, just a slow roll out and it is just exciting."
State Extension Specialist Clement Akotsen-Mensah shares that his number one priority is assisting to protect these crops from insects and diseases. "We have to monitor the insects. We have put some traps around to find whether these insects are at a level that they can cause significant damage. We believe that the crops that we are growing are healthy for the community."