By Khalida Sarwari
Dozens of Campbell residents and employees picked up boxes of organic fruits and vegetables this week that had been plucked from farms in the Morgan Hill and Watsonville areas and delivered to the Campbell Community Center as part of a pilot program to encourage healthy eating.
The participants signed up to receive the produce boxes through High Ground Organics and TIMptations, the two farms that are partnering with the city to promote the “Orchard City Organics” program by bringing produce directly to workers and residents every Wednesday and Thursday throughout September.
As of midweek, 29 participants had signed up for the program, said Mariah Dabel, recreation program manager in the city’s recreation and community services department.
“We were hoping to get 20 participants and we’ve already exceeded that,” Dabel said. “We’re really happy to see the response to the boxes from the community.”
She said the goal of the program is to give people additional access to fresh, locally grown produce.
“What we’re trying to do is encourage people in the community to eat healthier,” she said. “We’re giving residents another option to access fruits and veggies. Some people don’t have time to shop, so with this it’s kind of like getting groceries all in one box.”
The city received a grant of a little more than $21,000 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to promote the pilot program.
The cost of the produce boxes vary by farm. High Ground Organics, located in Watsonville, is offering a box of 100 percent organic fruits and veggies for $22, and for an additional $8 they throw in a bouquet of flowers. The cost for the four-week trial runs from $88 to $120. High Ground also delivers to Old Orchard School on W. Campbell Avenue. To sign up with this farm, visit www.highgroundor ganics.com.
TIMptations, based in the Morgan Hill-San Martin area, is offering a small box of produce that is about 80 to 90 percent organic for $18 and $26 for a large box. The four-week trial cost is from $72 to $104. To sign up with TIMptations, visit www.timptations.com.
The produce in the boxes changes each week and also comes with herbs, recipes and nutrition tips. A large box of produce from TIMptations this week, for example, included radishes, pears, cauliflower, tomatoes, squash, iceberg lettuce, okra, shallots, Poblano peppers and strawberries.
Pick-up times for High Ground Organics is Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. TIMptations subscribers can pick up their boxes Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m.
For more information about the pilot program, visit www.ci.campbell.ca.us/recreation.
