Baltimore residents benefit from fresh food grown in greenhouses

17:12 5th February 2010

Greenhouses are helping schoolchildren and poor communities in Baltimore get hold of fresh food.

Residents in Baltimore are able to get their hands on previously unavailable freshly-grown produce thanks to three portable greenhouses.

According to an article in the Christian Science Monitor, the greenhouses provide food for schoolchildren and poor neighbourhoods where fresh produce is hard to come by.

Known locally as "Hoop Village", it has recently harvested its first crop, which included radish, chard and spinach.

Nzinga Oneferua-El, the executive director of the project, said: "It's great that food can come out of here and go straight into our cafeterias. Our young people are learning that food does not just come out of a can."

The programme, which is receiving funding from the state and city, as well as individual donors, also aims to provide jobs to local residents, teaching them skills in agriculture, horticulture and marketing.

Individuals with gardens and greenhouses are able to provide fresh food for their family for minimal cost.