Kitsap Harvest seeks volunteers to pick fresh produce for those who need it

Kitsap Harvest is a program that organizes volunteers to pick surplus fruits and veggies from farms, yards, and gardens across Kitsap County. This activity is called "gleaning." Kitsap Harvest donates the fresh produce to local organizations that feed people, like food banks, shelters, school summer meal programs, and senior residences. Kitsap Harvest needs your help to pick more produce! Both individuals and groups are welcome to volunteer. Gleaning is a great team-building opportunity for your business, organization, or family.

It's easy to volunteer at a gleaning event:

• Browse the volunteer opportunities.

• Complete the volunteer application.

• Once approved as a volunteer, Kitsap Harvest will email you a list of gleaning events you can attend.

You can join one or more gleaning events. They are usually held in the mornings and last for a few hours. Children are welcome to attend. (Bonus: volunteers can choose to take home a portion of the harvested produce!)

Read More: Kitsap's glean team is saving fresh produce for those who need it | Kitsap Sun

Gleaning is just one way to reduce food waste

The average American household throws out 25% of the food they buy. For a family of four, that's around $1600 a year in wasted food.

You can make a change. Start with small shifts in the way you shop, prepare, and serve food. Think about the last food you tossed - why wasn't it eaten?

• Moldy or overripe? Visit stilltasty.com to learn the best way to store your foods. Hint: the freezer is your friend and fruit bowls are not.
• Past date? The USDA states that even if the expiration date on your food item has passed, it should still be safe to eat if handled properly. Your nose and eyes are the best way to determine if food is unsafe. Learn about misleading food dates at StopFoodWaste.org.
• Bought too much? Ever find yourself with too much food after a party? Before you shop for your next event, use the Guest-Imator tool to make a realistic estimate of how much your guests will eat.
• High hopes, no plans? Avoid buying foods without a plan for them. If you see a new food you'd like to try, first go home and Google a recipe. Keep a list of your family's favorite meals so you can fall back on familiar recipes. Make shopping lists and stick to them.

A word on composting: Food was grown to be eaten, not composted. According to the US EPA's Food Recovery Hierarchy, composting is among the least preferred solutions to food waste. When we throw away or compost food, we also waste all the water and energy used to produce, package, and transport food from the farm to our plates. 

US EPA Food Recovery Hierarchy