ASTA leaves behind community garden for ag education in Tampa

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Volunteers from the American Seed Trade Association’s 51st Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference spent an afternoon preparing the ground and planting a garden at St. Peter Claver Catholic School in Tampa, Fla.
The 118-year-old school, Florida’s oldest African American elementary school pre-k through eighth grade, needed some help with their school grounds and the laborious part of starting a garden.
ASTA members Rijk Zwaan USA and Applewood Seed Company provided a variety of vegetable and flower seeds for planting.
Volunteers turned the ground with rakes and shovels, pulled out weeds, planted seeds for a vegetable garden and flower beds in front of the buildings and around sitting areas.
“It was great to be able to give back to an organization that has such a rich history in the city of Tampa and very much appreciated by the leadership of the school,” said Andy LaVigne, American Seed Trade Association president and chief executive officer.
Joe Pentlicki, one of the ASTA volunteers, said he wanted to get out of the hotel and meet people like Duke (the school groundskeeper) and Sister Maria.
“It feels good to make a difference for the kids at the school and Duke shared with me how something like this makes a difference for the community,” said Pentlicki, chief operating officer for Oliver Manufacturing.
Brian Burney who is also with Oliver Manufacturing said it was an opportunity for me to interact with different people in an informal setting.
The project was organized by Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful and was sponsored by American Takii, Inc. Bejo Seeds, Inc. and HeinzSeed.