People’s Choice Winner – Avalon Jade Theisen
A fukushu kumquat presents its nutritious fruit and beautiful, fragrant flowers. Though few people may appreciate this campus resident beyond its splash of color, this fruit represents the unsung hero of the ASU food forest it is part of; our ASU food forest aids in nutritional, mental, and environmental health. The kumquat is a superfood known to help with weight loss, blood sugar levels, bone density, the digestive system, skin health, vision, and inhibiting certain cancers. Kumquat trees join over 100 other species in ASU’s food forest, including olives, peaches, oranges, loquats, dates, chards, and snow peas, in helping provide affordable, accessible, and nutritious food to take care of college students in this Tempe food desert. Spending time outdoors admiring and harvesting plants can reduce stress in our Sun Devils, while the shade of mature trees can provide relief on hot Arizona days. Ediblegreenery can also help filter air pollution, reduce the heat island effect, provide habitat for wildlife, and reduce transportation emissions by ensuring local food options. Though few people realize the significance of the plants on the Tempe campus beyond aesthetic landscaping, by helping nutrition, relaxation, and environmental health, the ASU food forest is an unsung hero!