A plant growing in North Fort Myers has the power to transform lives around the world.
Be the change by planting a seed. It is the echo of a promise made on a 55-acre farm in North Fort Myers where thousands of plants grow for changing lives.
“I love the mission,” said Mark Trask, ECHO volunteer. “I love why we’re doing what we’re doing.”
Trask said he is helping grow a difference by volunteering for ECHO. ECHO provides resources and teaches farming methods to people around the world to make them self-sustaining.
Farm Manager Andy Cotarelo said since partnering with Community Cooperative in 2013, ECHO has donated more than 7,000 pounds of produce to the Southwest Florida soup kitchen.
“We try to give them what they can use,” Cotarelo said. “We also wanted to make it available for the public. So we make that available every Friday and Saturday through our stand at the bookstore.”
Produce sold at ECHO’s farm stand helps pay for their operations and mission to send seeds around the world where they can make the most significant impact.
“One thing we’ve really strive to do is make sure the seeds we sent out are open-pollinated,” Cotarelo said. “Those are gonna be real important for farmers.”
