Editor's note: Darrin Nordahl is the author of "Public Produce: The New Urban Agriculture." Aiming to increase food literacy in America, Darrin also pens the daily food blog Today is...Fava Beans! Follow him on Twitter.

What's better than fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables? How about fresh, locally-grown, free fruits and vegetables, all within an easy walk of your home or office?

Such is the philosophy behind the growing movement of public produce.

Perhaps you've heard of guerrilla gardening, whereby rogue citizens trespass onto neglected property to cultivate pansies and potatoes, roses and rhubarb, in an illicit attempt to better their community.

Or maybe you've witnessed a couple of plum and pear trees filled with ripe fruit, wedged in that public zone between the sidewalk and the curb. Or a lone apple tree in the corner of your neighborhood park. These fruit trees were likely planted by citizens in an effort to bring fresh, free produce to their community brethren.

In cities throughout the world, citizens are facing rising costs for fresh produce and declining health from the Western diet, characterized by energy dense, nutrient poor fast foods. It is now cheaper to gorge oneself on Big Macs and Whoppers than it is zucchini and tomatoes.

Read - Solving obesity crisis: Strawberries in parking lots

Previously:
Young minds bloom on an urban farm
Random acts of farming and hope
A mission of hope in an urban garden