HARTFORD (WTIC) - The Hartford Food System and the Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance are readying three tracts of land in the middle of Hartford to plant 35 varieties of fruits and vegetables. They hope the parcels will yield a total of at least 5,000 pounds of food in 2008-- everything from tomatoes to peppers. All of the food will be donated to community groups or sold at reduced prices to neighborhood residents.

Organizers and supporters gathered for a dedication ceremony at one of the tracts along Broad Street in the Frog Hollow Section Thursday.

Last year, with only one tract of land, the effort yielded 3,694 pounds of fresh produce for neighborhood residents.

The land has been loaned to the Hartford Food System by SINA.