What is ‘Gleaning’ and Why Is it Important? Find out through the next South Mountain
Partnership Speakers Series Session

Every year, nearly 25 percent of all fruits and vegetables grown in the Unites States are left in the field after harvest, according to an article in The Guardian. This produce might be misshapen, slightly damaged, or just a surplus that the farmer can’t sell. Instead of leaving it in the field to rot, organizations like the Gleaning Project of South Central PA and their volunteers go into the field after harvest and ‘glean’ the leftover produce. The goods are then donated to food banks, pantries, and shelters, giving people a free source of fresh fruits and vegetables that they might not be able to afford otherwise.

The South Mountain Partnership invites you to learn more about gleaning and how to get involved by attending the next Speakers Series session, “Save the Bounty of our Counties:  Preserving Produce with the Gleaning Project of South Central PA.”

Members of the Gleaning Project of South Central PA, which was formed in 2013, will talk about the hundreds of thousands of pounds of local produce they save and donate each year. During the event you will have the chance to help them process and preserve excess produce gleaned from local farms. All preserved produce will be distributed to food insecure community members through their South Central Community Action Programs Produce Stand.

This is a free, family-friendly public event and part of a year-long series of presentations. The full list can be found here.