The Marana Community Food Bank's Heritage Farm, 12375 N. Heritage Park Drive, won an orchard on Friday by placing second in the nationwide Communities Take Root contest sponsored by Dreyer's Fruit Bars.
Dreyer's has been hosting the monthly contest online, and at the end of each month, the five organizations with the most votes receive an orchard.
The Marana Heritage Farm garnered nearly 27,000 votes in June.
The farm plans to plant a mix of fruit trees, likely including plums, peaches, apricots, apples, figs and maybe citrus, said farm manager Cie'na Schlaefli. The planting date is yet to be determined.
"We're pretty excited," Schlaefli said. "I'm overwhelmed by the community support we received. It goes to show people want good food in their community."
The farm will use its new acre to provide produce to its Child Nutrition Program. The orchard also will be used by staffers to teach folks about raising fruit trees in the desert, including discussions of planting, pruning, appropriate varieties, watering, nutrition, harvesting and processing.
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Another round of voting began Friday that includes organizations that haven't won. There's still another Arizona organization in the running, North Leupp Family Farms, in Winslow.
That group works to revitalize traditional Navajo agriculture and reduce diabetes among Navajos by encouraging healthy lifestyles.
Go to www.communitiestakeroot.com to vote for one of the current contenders. People may vote daily through the last day of each month.
Contact reporter Shelley Shelton at sshelton@azstarnet.com or 807-8464.
