Gleaning

Each year in America, over 6 billion pounds of fresh produce is allowed to rot in the field.  Harvest Texarkana, as part of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, participates in gleaning throughout the growing season.  Partnering with commercial growers across the state, AHRA staff, volunteers and the Department of Corrections manually clear fields after the commercial harvest collecting all the wonderful produce left behind.  In 2010, over 600,000 pounds of wonderful fresh produce is expected to be harvested. 

Volunteers are always needed for gleaning.  We are often given the opportunity to harvest with very short notice.  If you're interested in signing up to be on our volunteer list, contact our Development Director.

Also - local growers are encouraged to bring in the excesses of their own gardens to the food bank.  Why let extra food go to waste - when you can't eat one more zucchini.  Harvest Texarkana can accept all produce but cannot take items that are home preserved, frozen or canned.  Even better - plant an extra row with the intent to donate the fruits to the food bank.