TEEN FARMERS HOST UNITED STATES SURGEON GENERAL

Common Good City Farm Friday Aug. 3, 2012 12:30 TO 1:30 PM V Street NW between 2nd and 4th Contact: Stephanie Slewka 202 347-6002 stephanie.slewka@gmail.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WASHINGTON DC – Teenagers in Common Good City Farm’s summer youth program host Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA for a community lunch of healthy food they’ve helped grow in LeDroit Park, Washington DC. Dr. Benjamin’s Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation includes encouraging Americans to lead healthier lives through better nutrition, regular physical activity, and through improving communities to support healthy choices. Lunch, prepared by Common Good City Farm’s summer youth program participants under the supervision of Whole Foods Market’s P Street chefs, is part of a lunch series offering the DC community healthy, nutritious and tasty food. Bacio’s Pizzeria, Blind Dog Café, Meridian Pint, Smoke&Barrel also sponsor the program. “All of us at Common Good City Farm are thrilled and honored to host the Surgeon General of the United States who will surely inspire and motivate our youth. They are proud to showcase their great work over the summer,“ said Executive Director Pertula George-Redd. Through the program, youth aged 14-17 grow food, build garden beds, attend workshops and learn life skills. It is the first paid job for many, and a great way for teens from LeDroit Park, Anacostia, Chinatown, Maryland and Virginia to work with a diverse crowd of peers. Jeremiah Whitman is a 14 year old teen farmer in the program. He says:” I like that blackberries are sweet and sour, and that there is not just one thing growing on the farm, also that we are going to donate some of the food…and get to do most of the work.” Common Good City Farm is an urban farm and education center growing food with and for low-income residents in Washington DC and providing education opportunities for all people that help increase food security, improve health and contribute to environmental sustainability. Executive Director: Pertula George-Reddpertula@commongoodcityfarm.org