Ag center researchers’ food drive nets nearly 2,000 pounds

The 2011 Feds Feed Families Food Drive ran from July 5 through Aug. 31. 

This is a nationwide food drive is initiated through a partnership between the USDA and the Office of Personnel Management in Beltsville, Md.

The 90 employees at USDA/ARS/ALARC (Arid Land Agricultural Research Center) in Maricopa enthusiastically participated in this event with a "friendly" competition between the Research Units.  

Nearly 2,000 pounds of nonperishable foods was donated to the local food bank, FOR Maricopa, from the ARS/ALARC location. The winner of the coveted "traveling trophy" and morning pastries for this year's competition was the Pest Management and Biocontrol Research Unit with a total of 1,063 pounds.