United partners with South Plains Food Bank to provide pollinator garden at Carolyn Lanier Youth Farm

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - Efforts to provide fresh produce for hungry people on the South Plains are growing. On Wednesday, the United Supermarkets Floral Department teamed with One Tree Public and Colour Republic to work at the South Plains Food Bank Youth Farm as its resources expand in unique ways.

Adam Mulsow, manager of the farm says, “A pollinator garden is different from a traditional garden in that it is specifically plants that may not be as showy as some of your typical ornamental flowers.”

The good news is sometimes those less showy plants are the ones pollinating insects are the most attracted to. Mulsow says that is vital for production.

“It serves a lot of functions on our farm, not only is it beautiful but encouraging pollinators is great for the native environment, it is also great for our crops,” says Muslow.

The Carolyn Lanier Youth Farm produces around 50,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables a year for those in our area who are facing food insecurity. A need that continues to grow, something United Supermarkets understands.

Bradley Gains, director of floral at United says, “Pollinator gardens just help the bounty of any garden so just bringing bees and butterflies into the gardens for fruits and vegetables.”

United Family Stores raised $10,000 through the sale of special bouquets to enhance the farm and United florists from all over joined to watch the cause blossom.

“We have our leadership team of floral departments across from Dallas to Sante Fe to Taos to Lubbock to Amarillo they are all here today and we are just giving back,” said Gains.

Not only will the garden benefit those in need but it will also teach young adults job skills through the food bank’s grub program.

“Part of our tours we give here, we have teaching tools so this pollinating garden will serve to teach about pollination and metamorphism and different aspects so it is an important tool for us in that way,” said Mulsow.