The Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday a new countywide project to promote pride and beautification in Orange County. The name of the project is The Orange Grove and will feature the distribution of large concrete oranges across the county.
Communities like Jacksonville, Texas used the tomato (above) and Lake Charles used the alligator to promote themselves to visitors. Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce President Ida Schossow, Treasurer Chris Kovatch, and Chairman of the Board Dr. Stephen Patterson shared the idea for The Orange Grove.
The chamber has discussed for about four years a promotion to beautify the community and tie the cities together. “Something kind of fun that would be kind of eye-catching as people come into the various cities so the orange kind of came from there,” Kovatch explained.
The initial orange is being sculpted in Indiana and should be ready for display in about three weeks at the chamber’s office on Green Avenue in Orange. A mold will be made from that first orange for easier reproduction of more oranges. One orange a day can be made from the mold.
The first shipment of oranges should arrive in Orange County in December. The concrete oranges will be rather large weighing about 650 pounds and will be about 30 inches in diameter. The oranges will be plain white concrete and can be decorated however the owner wants within certain city guidelines and restrictions.
The Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting pre-orders now. Chamber members can purchase a concrete orange for $250 and non-members can buy an orange for $500 which will include a one-year promotional membership. A 16-inch by 16-inch concrete pad can be purchased for $5 to display the orange. A smaller paperweight sized orange for the desk or table will be available later according to Kovatch.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
Social Media