Unharvested Farm Produce to Be "Gleaned" for the Hungry

Volunteers to be trained to collect "wasted food" to provide nutritious meals
Maryland farm fields can continue to produce edible, nutritious food even after the farm harvest is complete. Volunteers for the Washington Area Gleaning Network (WAGN) hand pick fresh fruits and vegetables left behind by the harvest and give it to families without enough to eat. Each year as much as 20% of all food grown in the United States is left in the field after the harvest and is either plowed under or left to rot, according to WAGN.

On Sunday, Sept. 16, 2000, WAGN and the Maryland State Farm Service Agency (FSA) will sponsor a gleaning information and training program at the Southern Regional Maryland Farmers Market in Cheltenham, Maryland, starting at 8: 30 a.m. Volunteers will go into a recently harvested farm field to collect the leftover produce which will be provided to families in need within 48 hours. The volunteers also will learn how to organize their own gleaning projects in order to reduce hunger.

The Southern Regional Maryland Farmers Market is located on Route 301 in Prince George's County between Maryland Route 4 (Pennsylvania Ave.) and Route 5 (Branch Ave.), immediately south of the Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery.

For further information contact WAGN at 202-526-5344 or FSA at 410-381-4550.

Posted: 9-13-2000