Columbia officials celebrating free fruit orchard

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — City officials are getting together to celebrate a new fruit orchard being planted in Columbia.

Organizers say the orchard being celebrated Saturday is sponsored by the Communities Take Root Program. The annual effort provides neighborhood residents with locally-grown sources of fresh fruit by planting fruit tree orchards in deserving communities throughout the country.

Columbia is one of 20 cities to win a free fruit orchard through the program this year. The city is planting several dozen fruit trees at the site near downtown.