Dozens of newly planted fruit trees have created an oasis in a Florida “food desert” after local groups teamed up with the national Arbor Day Foundation in a project to counter soaring grocery prices.
Those behind the community forest venture in Orlando say demand from people struggling to afford basic, healthy food is at its highest level since the Covid pandemic.
They believe the planting of the 120 trees at the 4Roots farm west of downtown, and at a handful of community sites around the city, can provide a model for helping to ease food insecurity around the country, especially in impoverished areas…