Help Hilltop Hanover Farm a Win Fruit Orchard

, the Yorktown-based working crop farm and education center that offers programs on healthy and sustainable food production, is hoping for your vote to win a fruit orchard in a nationwide contest. 

"Unfortunately, it will be very hard," Farm Manager Lucille Munz said of the need for more than 30,000 votes, which is how many votes the top organizations that are currently in the lead have. The top 17 organizations with the most votes win.

Currently, the Westchester County farm has 3,026 votes. 

"I believe what they are doing is important, I support their efforts and I want to see them succeed," said Suzanne Jand, a supporter of the farm.

The Friends of Hilltop Hanover Farm, the non-profit group that supports and operates the county-owned Hilltop Hanover Farm in Yorktown, was chosen as one of the finalists in the Communities Take Root Program. If it makes it into the top 17 (out of 100 worthy community groups), it would win an entire fruit orchard.

The "Communities Take Root" contest is hosted by Edy's Fruit Bars. Twenty communities across the country were awarded fruit orchards last year through the contest.

"Today, these neighborhoods are looking forward to reaping the benefits of their orchards-from the beautiful green spaces to the promise of fresh fruit for everyone to share and enjoy," according to the contest website.

The 10 winners of the first two round were announced at the end of May and on July 3. The next round of winners are expected to be announced on August 1. The organizations currently in the lead have about 30,000 votes, so Hilltop Hanover Farm would need more than 500 votes per day to win.

"I believe we can meet this challenge if we work together," Jand said. "Every vote is important—every vote, every day counts toward our goal."

To make this happen, you can vote as often as you would like—once every day between now and August 29 by clicking here.

Here’s how you can vote:

• Go to the Communities Take Root website
• Register once or log in, if already registered
• Scroll down the page and find “NY”—you’ll see Friends of Hilltop Hanover Farm—
• Click “Vote”!

Besides the pick-your-own vegetable operation, a farm stand and educational workshops, the farm also  each year. Hilltop is already growing its own vegetables, so having a fruit orchard could only add to its value. In 2010, county legislators presented a plan to  by 2014.