South Central Farmers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTH CENTRAL FARMERS & TREE PEOPLE

ANNUAL FRUIT TREE GIVEAWAY!

“WE ARE BRINGING FOOD TO THE HOOD!

Even after years of struggle and in a time of economic crisis.”

Photos and video available upon request.

LOS ANGELES—On Saturday, January 30^th at 12:00pm the South Central Farmers will roll out The BIG Fruit Tree Giveaway in collaboration with Tree People organization. Taking place at the South Central Farm Center located on 1702 E. 41^st Street, right next to the former site of the South Central Farm, one hundred fruit trees will be distributed to neighboring families.  The Farmers want every tree that was bulldozed, killed, or forcibly removed from the South Central Farm to be lovingly replaced by a new sapling of potential and hope in South Central Los Angeles.  Tree types will include passion fruit, apples, apricots, nectarines, loquats, peaches, cherimoya, plums, and guavas.

THIS  campaign is part of a larger plan to address community food security issues through comprehensive and multi-faceted efforts that engage multiple stakeholders and constituencies in planning for and implementing viable food systems that feed hungry families in disenfranchised urban neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

The rise of the South Central Farmers began nearly four years ago when their raucous and playful street protests, with over-sized cardboard corn FIGURES and a multicultural blend of community, gave voice to 350 families being thrown out of a public URBAN FARM they had cultivated into a hidden paradise in the middle of L.A.'s industrial district.

Developer Ralph Horowitz bulldozed the site of the South Central Farm, the nation's largest urban farm, in June of 2006 after negotiations between the Mayor's office and Horowitz failed.  As of now they have temporarily halted Horowitz's planned construction of a mammoth DISTRIBUTION CENTER for Forever 21, forcing Horowitz to agree to an Environmental Impact Report before construction could go forward on the warehouse. Regardless of the difficulties, the farmers continue on their mission for food sovereignty and environmental justice through the established non-profit organization South Central Farmers Health and Education Fund, a 501c.3. They also continue to hold weekly farmers markets in Watts, Leimert Park, Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, LA City Hall, as well as Hollywood.

-danny santana~>
-South Central Farm Volunteer - Never Forever 21 Coalition -

310-594-2098

"NO MORE WAREHOUSES IN SOUTH CENTRAL!" BOYCOTT F21!
SIGN THE PETITION: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/tell-a-friend/5817851
Check out southcentralfarmers.com