Gleaning for Food Banks
In an effort to address food insecurity in Hanover County, Hanover Cooperative Extension has started their first gleaning program. Local farmers sometimes have surplus produce that they need “gleaned”, or gathered after harvest, to clear their fields in preparation for their next crop. Rather than letting this produce become compost, the Extension office is directing it to local food pantries in need! In cooperation with farmers in the area, Master Gardeners who have taken a food safety course go to the fields on coordinated dates, harvest the produce, and transport it to food pantries that serve the Hanover community. In the first two weeks of the project, Hanover Cooperative Extension has worked with three farms to donate over 700 pounds of produce such as zucchini, squash, cabbage, and corn, and almost 500 pints of fresh blackberries to eight different food pantries! That is over 4,000 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables that have been donated to Hanover community members facing food insecurity. If you have extra produce to share contact the Hanover Extension Office at 804-752-4310.