/ City of Columbia
COLUMBIA (WACH, AP) -- City officials are getting together to celebrate a new fruit orchard being planted in Columbia.
The orchard is located at Owens Field Park, 1351 Jim Hamilton Boulevard.
Organizers say the orchard being celebrated Saturday is sponsored by the Communities Take Root Program. The annual effort provides neighborhood residents with locally-grown sources of fresh fruit by planting fruit tree orchards in deserving communities throughout the country.
Columbia is one of 20 cities to win a free fruit orchard through the program this year. 25,202 votes were cast and allowed Columbia to win in the second round of voting in the national online contest.
The city is planting several dozen fruit trees at the site near downtown.
The following types of trees were planted Saturday:
Plum:
Santa Rosa, Methley
Figs:
Black Mission, Brown Turkey, Celeste
Pomegranates:
Wonderful
Apple:
Fuji, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Anna Apple
Pears:
Kieffer, Hood Pear, Shinseiko Pear, Moonglow Pear
Mulberry
Blueberry Bushes:
Becky Blue, Climax, Tifblue
Kumquat: Satsuma Orange
Loquat
Fuyu Persimmon
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)