Putting Knowledge to Work for the People of Maine Date: April 1, 2010 Contact: Amy Witt, Horticulturist

University of Maine Cooperative Extension PO Box 9300, Portland, ME 04104 Tel. 207-780-4205 or 1-800-287-1471

Fax: 780-4283

For Immediate Release Date: April 2010

Portland, ME - According to the Good Shepherd Food Bank, Maine ranks ninth in the nation for food insecurity with 13.3 percent of Maine households (175,000 people) experiencing food insecurity or unable to consistently access nutritious food. This number has increased by more than 15% over the past two years.

A simple way that people can help others in need is by growing and donating extra produce from their own gardens through Plant A Row for the Hungry (PAR). Developed by the Garden Writers Association, the goal of this national campaign is to encourage gardeners and farmers to plant an extra row of produce and donate it to local food banks and soup kitchens. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension sponsors the program and provides information on growing vegetables and donation sites. The UMaine Extension office in Cumberland County is currently enrolling gardeners and volunteers residing in Cumberland County for the upcoming growing season. To request a PAR enrollment package call 1-800-287-1471 (in Maine) or 207-780-4205 or email: choyt@umext.maine.edu.

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For more than 90 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaine�s land-grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county.

Plant A Row for the Hungry: No Donation Too Small!

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