January 23, 2013

Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler will visit the Kansas City Community Gardens facility Thursday for a guided tour of the facility, including KCCG's main garden, administrative and classroom facilities and the Beanstalk Children's Garden. Ben Sharda, executive director of KCCG, will lead the tour.

During the visit, Dr. Hagler will also recognize Kansas City Community Gardens and Metro Lutheran Ministry for receiving local foods matching grants from the Department. The grants will support the groups' efforts to connect those in the Kansas City-area with fresh, locally grown produce, including providing new equipment for Kansas City Community Garden's school programs and Metro Lutheran Ministry's urban fruit orchard.

This is the second year for the Local Foods Matching Grants program. A total of eight grants were awarded state wide.

WHO: Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler, Kansas City Community Gardens executive director Ben Sharda, and Metro Lutheran Ministry executive director Jim Glynn

WHAT: Guided facility tour and recognition of grant recipients

WHEN: Thurs., January 24, 2013 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Kansas City Community Gardens 6917 Kensington Kansas City, Mo. 64132

Department of Agriculture News

At left are the latest news stories from the Missouri Department of Agriculture. For more information, contact Christine Tew, strategic communications manager, at (573) 522-3169 or Christine.Tew@mda.mo.gov.

State Fair News

For the latest news stories from the Missouri State Fair, please visit their Web site or contact Tammie Nichols, marketing director, at (660) 530-5611 or Tammie.Nichols@mda.mo.gov.

USDA News

For the latest national agriculture news from USDA, visit USDA.gov.