Spring Gleaning!

What an impact we have made!  Thanks to generous farms, our supporters, and our volunteers, Transition Sarasota has rescued 57,767 pounds of fresh produce from local farms to donate to local food banks and pantries during 2022, with more to come later this year. This is enough to provide over 154,000 people in need with a 6 ounce serving of fresh produce. 

With skyrocketing food, rent, and gas prices, many people are struggling to get food on the table. By gleaning excess or unwanted fresh produce and donating it to those in need, we make it possible for members of our community to get access to fresh, healthy food that they normally could not afford. This can make a huge impact on their health and even improve children’s school performance. No one should go hungry.

By gleaning, we also provide a benefit to the farm. We remove excess produce so that it does not rot in the field and it also makes things easier for them to prepare the soil for the next crop. Food is not wasted. Our volunteers feel really good about what they do. They are providing their time to do a valuable service for our community and they enjoy harvesting food that they know will really help people. When we see the food bank truck pull up at the farm to load up the pallets of food that we have just harvested, we know that we are serving thousands of people. 

What an amazing group of volunteers we have. Gleaners Rock!