In a press release sent out late last week, the Sherwood location of Portland's Al's Garden Center turned itself into a tomato-plant pick-up center. Al's Patty Howe informed local community gardens, school gardens and senior centers that 1,500 tomato plants are available for pick-up.

Here's what the press release said:

Local community gardens, school gardens, senior centers, and hospitals have been contacted and will pick up their tomatoes Friday, May 21st, 2010 at Al’s Garden Center in Sherwood in the afternoon. The tomato plants are a little too “leggy” to be sold under Al’s high quality standards, but will produce plenty of delicious tomatoes this summer. This donation is part of Al’s Garden Centers’ efforts to keep food producing plants out of the compost pile and into local gardens. The 1,500 tomato plants have been sustainably grown in Al’s Garden Centers Greenhouses in Hubbard.

To learn more about Al's community efforts, click here to hear Patty Howe discuss how to get the most out of your community donations.